Yonsei Med J.  2013 Jan;54(1):183-188. 10.3349/ymj.2013.54.1.183.

Influence of Infliximab on Cytokines Network and Markers of Bone Remodeling in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

• Korczowska I
• Lacki JK
• Hrycaj P

• KMID: 1776936
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2013.54.1.183

Abstract

PURPOSE
Our aim was to determine the effects of infliximab on bone mineral metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and analyze the relationship between inflammatory markers of acute phase thought to play a major role in bone remodeling.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
36 patients with established RA were investigated. All patients underwent physical examination and blood and urinary analysis at baseline, 2 weeks, 14 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after the initiation of treatment. The serum levels of: tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor 1 (TNFR1), TNFR2, interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-17, IL-23 and markers of bone remodeling such as osteocalcin (BGP), deoxypyridynoline (Dpd), and N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) were measured by ELISA.
RESULTS
The results showed significant decrease of all the above cytokines levels in RA patients in comparison with those after 2 weeks of treatment. After 6 months, the markers of bone formation and resorption decreased compared to baseline values. We found positive correlation between the levels of NTx and the levels of IL-6, IL-17 and TNFR1, and between the levels of Dpd and IL-6 and Dpd and TNFR2, whereas negative correlation between BGP and IL-23. After 12 months the positive association was found at the BGP level and IL-6 as well as Dpd and the level of IL-6. We also observed a positive relation between Dpd and TNF-alpha and negative between BGP and TNFR1.
CONCLUSION
We suggest that infliximab treatment may limit the risk of osteoporosis in RA patients.

Keyword

Rheumatoid arthritis; infliximab; cytokines; markers of bone remodelling

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Antibodies, Monoclonal/*therapeutic use
Antirheumatic Agents/therapeutic use
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/blood/complications/*drug therapy
Biological Markers/metabolism
Bone Remodeling/*drug effects
Bone Resorption
Cytokines/*metabolism
Female
*Gene Expression Regulation
Humans
Interleukin-17/metabolism
Interleukin-6/metabolism
Middle Aged
Osteoporosis/complications/prevention & control
Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I/metabolism
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Antirheumatic Agents
Biological Markers
Cytokines
Interleukin-17
Interleukin-6
Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I

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