Macrophage activity assessed by soluble CD163 in early rheumatoid arthritis: association with disease activity but different response patterns to synthetic and biologic DMARDs

Stinne Ravn Greisen, Holger Jon Møller, Kristian Stengaard-Pedersen, Merete Lund Hetland, Kim Hørslev-Petersen, Peter Junker, Mikkel Østergaard, Malene Hvid, Bent Deleuran

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease where TNF-α is a central mediator of inflammation, and is cleaved from the cell surface by TACE/ADAM17. This metalloproteinase is also responsible for the release of soluble (s) CD163. Soluble CD163 reflects macrophage activation. In RA, sCD163 has been suggested as a marker of disease activity and progression. Our aim is to investigate sCD163 levels in early RA patients.

METHODS: Soluble CD163 was measured by ELISA from 150 RA plasma samples from the OPERA trial. Averaged disease duration was three months, prior to randomisation with methotrexate (MTX) and adalimumab (DMARD+ADA) or MTX and placebo (DMARD+PLA). Soluble CD163 levels were evaluated in relation to clinical disease parameters.

RESULTS: Plasma sCD163 at baseline was 2.39 mg/l (1.74 mg/l-3.18 mg/l), mean (95% CI), vs healthy controls: 1.63 mg/l (1.54 mg/l - 1.73 mg/l), (p<0.001). After three months of treatment sCD163 levels decreased significantly (average 23.5%) in both treatment groups. Significant incremental sCD163 levels followed withdrawal of ADA after 12 months of treatment. Baseline sCD163 correlated with CRP and all investigated disease activity markers (ρ=0.16-0.28, p<0.05). In the DMARD+PLA group baseline sCD163 also correlated with CRP during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS: Soluble CD163 correlated with disease activity markers in early RA before treatment. Plasma sCD163 may add to currently available disease measures by specifically reflecting changes in macrophage activity as evidenced by increasing levels following anti-TNF withdrawal, despite maintenance of a stable clinical condition achieved by conventional remedies. It remains to be determined whether sCD163 is an early predictor of disease flare.

Original languageEnglish
JournalClinical and Experimental Rheumatology
Volume33
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)498-502
Number of pages5
ISSN0392-856X
Publication statusPublished - 13 May 2015

Keywords

  • Adalimumab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid
  • Biomarkers
  • Disease Progression
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Macrophage Activation
  • Male
  • Methotrexate
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acuity
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Scavenger
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

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