Abstract

This work aims at determining the difference of pro-inflammatory cytokines, adhesion molecules in a synovial fluid, serum of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis patients. Synovial fluid and serum were obtained from rheumatoid arthritis (n=21), osteoarthritis (n=11) patients, serum of healthy individuals (n=12). Interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, sE-selectin levels were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Test. Compared to controls, S-sE-selectin was significantly elevated in rheumatoid arthritis while S-IL-1β, S-TNF-α were elevated in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis patients. S-sE-selectin, SF-IL-1β, and SF-TNF-α were significantly elevated in rheumatoid arthritis versus osteoarthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, SF-sE-selectin was significantly lower while SF-TNF-α was higher than serum in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis, positive correlation between SF-E-selectin with serum C-reactive Protein and S-sE-selectin; between S-sE-selectin with disease duration and S-TNF-α between S-IL1-β with SF-IL1-β and disease activity while the negative correlation between S-TNF-α with grip strength were found. A degree of vascular endothelial activation reflected by increased sE-selectin is associated with disease activity, duration in rheumatoid arthritis. The positive association between IL-1β, disease activity and a negative association between TNF-α, grip strength indicated that serial estimation of these cytokines may be used to monitor disease progression. Elevated TNF-α in synovial fluid than in serum of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis patients indicates its local formation in the synovium.