Rheumatology Unit, University Clinic AOU Cagliari, Monserrato.
Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari.
Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Sep 1;60(9):4218-4228. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa915.
Metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 and MMP-12 are proteolytic enzymes especially implicated in joint inflammation. This study aims to evaluate their association with arthritis features and hand MRI abnormalities in patients with SLE.
Fifty SLE patients, with a mean (s.d.) age of 48.1 (14.6) years were tested for MMP-3 and MMP-12 serum levels, then further classified according to the presence of X-ray erosions and joint deformities. Eighteen RA patients aged 47.9 (11.8) and 14 healthy people aged 46.0 (11.0) were enrolled as control groups. A subgroup of 28 SLE patients underwent a dominant-hand MRI; the detected changes were classified and semi-quantitatively scored as capsular swelling, synovitis, edematous or proliferative tenosynovitis, bone oedema, bone erosions. Statistical analysis was performed using multiple regression models.
MMP-3 were significantly higher in patients with Jaccoud's arthropathy (JA) (22.1 ng/ml, P < 0.05) and independently associated with hsCRP serum levels (B-coeff 0.50; r = 0.30; P < 0.05). MMP-12 serum levels were significantly lower in patients with JA (0.18 ng/ml, P < 0.05) and inversely associated with the prednisone daily dose (B-coeff -0.03; r = -0.44; P < 0.01). Capsular swelling and edematous tenosynovitis, the most prevalent hand MRI changes in patients with JA, associated with higher MMP-3 (B-coeff 0.12; r = 0.66; P < 0.01 and B-coeff 0.08; r = 0.59; P < 0.01, respectively) and lower MMP-12 serum levels (B-coeff -7.4; r = -0.50; P < 0.05 and B-coeff -5.2; r = -0.44; P = 0.05, respectively).
Imbalanced MMP-3 and MMP-12 serum levels are influenced by inflammation and glucocorticoids in SLE patients and associated with JA and distinctive hand MRI changes.
金属蛋白酶（MMP）-3 和 MMP-12 是特别参与关节炎症的蛋白水解酶。本研究旨在评估它们与 SLE 患者关节炎特征和手部 MRI 异常的关系。
50 名 SLE 患者，平均（标准差）年龄 48.1（14.6）岁，检测血清 MMP-3 和 MMP-12 水平，然后根据 X 线侵蚀和关节畸形的存在进一步分类。18 名 RA 患者年龄 47.9（11.8）岁和 14 名健康人年龄 46.0（11.0）岁作为对照组。28 名 SLE 患者进行了优势手 MRI；检测到的变化进行分类和半定量评分，包括囊肿胀、滑膜炎、水肿或增殖性腱鞘炎、骨水肿、骨侵蚀。使用多元回归模型进行统计分析。
Jaccoud 关节炎（JA）患者的 MMP-3 明显升高（22.1ng/ml，P<0.05），并与 hsCRP 血清水平独立相关（B 系数 0.50；r=0.30；P<0.05）。JA 患者 MMP-12 血清水平明显降低（0.18ng/ml，P<0.05），与泼尼松日剂量呈负相关（B 系数-0.03；r=-0.44；P<0.01）。JA 患者最常见的手部 MRI 变化为囊肿胀和水肿性腱鞘炎，与 MMP-3 升高相关（B 系数 0.12；r=0.66；P<0.01 和 B 系数 0.08；r=0.59；P<0.01），MMP-12 血清水平降低（B 系数-7.4；r=-0.50；P<0.05 和 B 系数-5.2；r=-0.44；P=0.05）。
SLE 患者血清 MMP-3 和 MMP-12 水平的失衡受炎症和糖皮质激素的影响，并与 JA 和独特的手部 MRI 变化相关。
