Serum chemerin levels: A potential biomarker of joint inflammation in women with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Background Chemerin has a potential role in perpetuating inflammation in autoimmune diseases. Nevertheless, to date, there is no conclusive information on whether high chemerin levels increase the severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, this study evaluated whether serum chemerin is a biomarker of disease activity in RA patients. Methods Study design: cross-sectional. The assessment included clinical and laboratory characteristics, body mass index (BMI) and fat mass. The severity of the disease activity was identified according to the DAS28-CRP index as follows: A) RA with a DAS28-CRP≤2.9 (remission/mild activity) and B) RA with a DAS28-CRP>2.9 (moderate/severe activity). Serum chemerin concentrations were measured by ELISA, and ≥103 ng/mL was considered a high level. Logistic regression analysis was applied to determine whether high chemerin levels were associated with disease activity in RA after adjusting for confounders. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with chemerin levels. Results Of 210 RA patients, 89 (42%) subjects had moderate/severe disease activity and had higher serum chemerin levels than patients with low disease activity or remission (86 ± 34 vs 73± 27; p = 0.003). Serum chemerin correlated with the number of swollen joints (r = 0.15; p = 0.03), DAS28-CRP (r = 0.22; p = 0.002), and C-reactive protein levels (r = 0.14; p = 0.04), but no correlation was observed with BMI and fat mass. In the adjusted logistic regression analysis, high chemerin levels (≥103 ng/mL) were associated with an increased risk of moderate/severe disease activity (OR: 2.76, 95% CI 1.35–5.62; p = 0.005). In the multiple regression analysis, after adjusting for potential confounders, serum chemerin levels were associated with higher DAS28-CRP (p = 0.002). Conclusions Higher chemerin levels increased the risk of moderate and severe disease activity in RA. These results support the role of chemerin as a marker of inflammation in RA. Follow-up studies will identify if maintaining low chemerin levels can be used as a therapeutic target.

Myostatin Levels and the Risk of Myopenia and Rheumatoid Cachexia in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…This study was performed by researchers of the Group for the Assessment of Prognosis Biomarkers in Autoimmune Disorders. The characteristics and members of this group had been published elsewhere [ 13 ]. This is a multidisciplinary group of researches estblished for the assessment of diagnostic tests, biomarkers, and prognosis and the treatment of chronic diseases.…”

“…This group was constituted by a multidisciplinary group of researchers (leadership: Laura Gonzalez-Lopez). Details of this group have been published elsewhere [ 13 ].…”

Inflammation-Driven Secretion Potential Is Upregulated in Osteoarthritic Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes

“…There are no data on the effect of RARRES1 on the development of joint disease, but it has been shown to have pro-inflammatory and fibrosis-promoting effects through activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway [ 89 ]. RARRES2 (also known as chemerin) was overexpressed in the serum of OA [ 90 ] and RA [ 91 ] patients, but it was not correlated with disease stage. RARRES2 belongs to the adipokine family, and this protein may be a link between OA and obesity (its upregulation is confirmed in both disorders) [ 92 ].…”

Organokines in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Critical Review

“…Gonzalez-Ponce et al [ 164 ] amplificated the results of the anterior study by implicating chemerin levels as a biomarker of joint inflammation in RA women. In an observational cross-sectional study, these authors identified in 210 patients (56.59 ± 11.25 years old) that chemerin serum levels were highly and positively associated with RA inflammation and moderate and severe RA diseases.…”