AB0444 Elevated plasma chemerin levels are correlated with disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Y.J. Ha, S.T. Choi, J.-S. Song, E.-J. Kang, K.-H. Lee
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2013)

<h3>Background</h3> Chemerin is an adipokine that is linked to adipogenesis and chemotaxis of the innate immune system. It is expressed on macrophage, dendritic cells, and synovial lining and sublining cells. It has been reported that chemerin has both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory roles, and higher level of chemerin was detected in various chronic inflammatory diseases. Recent studies have showed that its expression is increased in the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and the chemerin may play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA. However, the association between plasma chemerin level and disease activity in RA patients remains unclear. <h3>Objectives</h3> This study aims to determine whether plasma chemerin level is elevated in patient with RA and its correlation with disease activity and other parameters. <h3>Methods</h3> This study includes 69 RA patients and 40 age- and sex- matched healthy controls. Plasma samples were obtained from healthy controls and patients with RA during active and inactive disease status. We assessed the clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters including body mass index (BMI), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and disease activity score 28 (DAS28). The plasma level of chemerin and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). <h3>Results</h3> Plasma chemerin level was significantly elevated in patients with RA than healthy control (8.508±12.437 pg/mL vs 0.370±0.219 pg/mL, p&lt;0.001). In RA patients, plasma chemerin level showed negative correlation with BMI (γ=-0.299 p=0.013). The adjusted plasma chemerin level according to BMI was correlated with DAS28 (γ=0.312, p=0.01), but not plasma TNF- α level. The adjusted plasma chemerin level of active disease group patients (DAS28 ≥2.6) was significantly higher than that of remission group patients (DAS28 &lt;2.6) (0.537±0.844 pg/mL vs 0.244±0.182 pg/mL, <i>p</i> =0.049). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Patients with RA showed higher plasma chemerin than that of healthy controls. The adjusted plasma chemerin level according to BMI was well correlated with RA disease activity. These findings suggest that plasma chemerin could play a role in the inflammatory process of RA, and that it may be a useful disease activity marker in RA. <h3>References</h3> Kaneko K, Miyabe Y, Takayasu A, Fukuda S, Miyabe C, Ebisawa M et al. Chemerin activates fibroblast-like synoviocytes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 2011;13(5):R158 Nakajima H, Nakajima K, Nagano Y, Yamamoto M, Tarutani M, Takahashi M et al. Circulating level of chemerin is upregulated in psoriasis. J Dermatol Sci 2010;60(1):45-7 Weigert J, Obermeier F, Neumeier M, Wanninger J, Filarsky M, Bauer S, et al. Circulating levels of chemerin and adiponectin are higher in ulcerative colitis and chemerin is elevated in Crohn's disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2010;16(4):630-7 <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None Declared