Serum insulin-like growth factor-axis and matrix metalloproteinases in patients with rheumatic arthritis or rheumatic heart disease

• Published in: Clinica chimica acta Vol. 367; no. 1; pp. 62 - 68
• Main Authors: Lee, Shin-Da, Chen, Li-Mien, Kuo, Wei-Wen, Shu, Win-Tom, Kuo, Wu-Hsien, Huang, Erh-Jung, Tsai, Chin-Chuan, Li, Ping-Chun, Liu, Jer-Yuh, Chen, Ter-Hsin, Huang, Chih-Yang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.05.2006
• Subjects: Adult; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - blood; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - complications; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - pathology; Endocrine system; GH-IGF-axis; Growth Hormone - blood; Heart Diseases - blood; Heart Diseases - complications; Heart Diseases - pathology; Humans; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - metabolism; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II - metabolism; Interleukin-10 - blood; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 - blood; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 - genetics; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - blood; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - genetics; Middle Aged; MMPs; Rheumatic heart disease; GH-IGF-axis; Rheumatic heart disease; Endocrine system; MMPs
• ISSN: 0009-8981; 1873-3492
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2005.11.015

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I plays an important role for maintaining cardiac functions. We clarified the unknown role of IGF-axis in rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Interleukin (IL)-10, growth hormone (GH), IGF, IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) were measured by ELISA and zymography in 30 age range-matched normal subjects (control), 36 patients with acute phase of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with positive rheumatoid factor (RF) and C-reactive protein (CRP), and in 43 patients with RHD with negative RF and CRP. Compared with normal subjects, increased IL-10 level and decreased GH were found in RA group whereas unchanged IL-10 and decreased GH were found in RHD group. Compared with age range-matched normal subjects, decreased IGFBP-3, MMP-9 levels, unchanged IGF-I were found in RA group whereas decreased IGF-I levels, unchanged IGFBP3 and increased MMP-9 at age > 30 years were found in RHD group. IGF-II was not changed in RA and RHD groups. These findings may imply that during inflammatory phase, the levels of anti-inflammation was high and total IGF-I and IGF bioavailability were maintained in patients with RA. Our findings in RHD may speculate that the long-term reduction of GH and IGF-I as well as the compensating effects of upregulated MMP-9 activity may be partially involved in the long-term pathogenesis from RHD to heart failure. Decreased GH, decreased IGF-I and increased MMP-9 activities may be possible diagnostic markers in RHD for developing heart failure.