ABSTRACT. This study aimed to investigate the expressional profile of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in articular cartilage bone of osteoarthritis (OA) patients and its correlation with OA. A total of 30 articular cartilage bone samples from knee OA patients, which were collected by knee arthroscopy or articular surgery, comprised the study group, and 30 samples of normal articular cartilage tissue comprised the control group. Both mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) and protein levels of IL-6 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were measured and compared, and a correlation analysis was performed between the two. The integral optical density (IOD) values of MMP-9 and IL-6 proteins in the study group were 9.21 ± 3.22 and 8.94 ± 3.17, respectively; these were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those in the control group at 3.14 ± 1.48 and 6.64 ± 1.53, respectively. The IOD values of mRNA transcripts for MMP-9 and IL-6 in the study group were 8.31 ± 2.28 and 8.78 ± 3.43, respectively; these were significantly higher than the values in the control group at 3.52 ± 1.37 and 5.21 ± 1.72 (P < 0.05), respectively. Further, the correlation analysis revealed significantly positive relationships for both protein (r = 0.434, P = 0.001) and mRNA (r = 14190 X.Q. Qu et al.©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 14 (4): 14189-14195 (2015) 0.413, P = 0.002) levels between MMP-9 and IL-6. In conclusion, articular cartilage tissues in knee OA patients have higher levels of MMP-9 and IL-6 expression, and these may play a synergistic role in OA pathogenesis.

ABSTRACT. We investigated the expression levels of high-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB-1), CXC chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16), microRNA (miRNA)-30a and transforming growth factor b1 (TGF-b1) in primary nephritic syndrome (PNS) patients and the clinical significance of this expression. A total of 56 patients with PNS were included in the PNS group, while 50 healthy subjects formed the normal control group. Serum levels of HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and urinary TGF-b1 concentrations were quantified along with other biochemical indices, including serum albumin, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), lowdensity lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein, and urinary proteins. The correlation between levels of HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and TGF-b1 and biochemical indexes was further analyzed. PNS group patients had significantly higher levels of HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA30a, and TGF-b1 compared to the control group (P < 0.05). PNS patients also had higher 24-h urinary protein, TG, TC, and LDL levels but lower serum albumin compared to subjects in the control group (P < 0.05). Serum HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and urinary TGF-b1 levels were all negatively correlated with serum albumin levels, but were positively correlated with TG, TC, LDL, and 24-h urinary protein (P < 0.05 in all cases). Additionally, a positive correlation existed among serum HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and urinary TGF-b1 levels (P < 0.01). HMGB-1, CXCL16, miRNA-30a, and urinary TGF-b1 were highly expressed in PNS patients and may play important roles in the pathogenesis and development of PNS.