| Abstract [eng] |
This study evaluated the role of sociodemographic, clinical, ultrasound, and laboratory variables, which are usually assessed in everyday rheumatologist clinical practice, for the outcomes of UA. The association of VEGF levels and SNPs (rs2476601, rs833070, rs6920220) with the UA parameters mentioned above and their significance for the disease outcomes were also assessed. VEGF levels were significantly associated with RA poor prognosis markers and were also significantly lower in subjects diagnosed with inflammatory spondyloarthropathy during the study period. The investigated VNPs had no association with the risk to develop RA, although subjects with polymorphism rs6920220 GG and GA genotypes had a higher number of tender joints at the study baseline. Based on the data from published literature, for the first time, the gene expression of TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, inflammasomes (NLRP1, NLRP3), and VDR, as well as secretion of MMP-1, MMP-7, MMP-8, MMP-12, MMP-13, and interleukin-1β were measured, in knee SF from subjects with UA, RA, and OA, and data compared with results obtained from control group SF analysis. In the UA group significantly higher TLR4 gene expression in unstimulated SF and NLRP3 expression in TNFα-stimulated SF was detected compared to the RA group. Meanwhile, after SF stimulation with TNFα in combination with VitD3, the expression of MMP-12 in the UA group was statistically lower than in the OA group. |
