Associations of CTX-II with biochemical markers of bone turnover raise questions about its tissue origin: new insights from CHECK

The role of biochemical markers of joint tissue remodelling to predict progression and treatment efficacy in inflammatory rheumatic diseases

Structural damage is a hallmark in RA, spondyloarthropy (SpA) and psoriatric arthritis (PsA). Its progression is difficult to predict and current radiological or inflammatory biological markers lack sensitivity. Biochemical markers of bone, cartilage and synovial tissues provide a dynamic indication of the anabolism and catabolism of joint tissues and can be easily measured by immunoassays. Novel biochemical markers including post-translational modifications of matrix proteins and enzyme-generated neoepitopes with increased tissue and/or biological pathway specificity have been developed. Their evaluation in clinical trials of novel biologic therapies and epidemiological studies indicated that their measurements could be useful to predict progression of structural damage and treatment efficacy, independently of current clinical, radiological and biological indices of disease activity. In this paper we briefly describe the latest developments in biochemical markers and critically analyse the clinical data assessing the utility of established and novel biochemical markers in RA, SpA and PsA.

Hyaluronan derivative HYMOVIS® increases cartilage volume and type ii collagen turnover in osteoarhritic knee: data from MOKHA study

BACKGROUND

The objective of this pilot study was to identify biological, clinical or structural biomarkers of an intra-articular hyaluronic acid injection efficacy (HYMOVIS®) for the design of a larger placebo-controlled clinical trial studying the disease-modifying activity of this treatment.

METHODS

Forty six patients with symptomatic knee Osteoarthritis (OA) were enrolled in this open-label, prospective, multicenter, pilot study. Patients received two treatment cycles of intra-articular injections (3 mL) of HYMOVIS® (8 mg/mL of hyaluronic acid hexadecylamide) at 6 months interval. Each treatment cycle involved two intra-articular injections 1 week apart. All patients had Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the target knee at baseline and 1 year, and blood samples to assess joint biomarkers. The primary outcome was the change in type II collagen-specific biomarkers (Coll2-1, Coll2-1NO2 and CTX-II) after HYMOVIS® treatment versus baseline. Secondary endpoints included levels changes in aggrecan chondroitin sulfate 846 epitope (CS-846), Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP), procollagen type II N-terminal propeptide (PIIANP), Matrix Metalloprotease (MMP)-3, Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Interleukin (IL)-6 serum biomarkers, the ratio Coll2-1/PIIANP, CTX-II/PIIANP, variation of MRI cartilage volume, and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) index.

RESULTS

Coll2-1 serum levels significantly increased overtime while Coll2-1NO2 levels were only increased at D360. Serum PIIANP levels also progressively and significantly enhanced with time. In contrast, other serum biomarker levels including CTX-II, CS-846, COMP, MMP-3, MPO or IL-6 did not change significantly overtime. Interestingly, the ratios Coll2-1/PIIANP and CTX-II/PIIANP decreased, indicating a decrease of cartilage catabolism. Compared to baseline value, MRI cartilage volume and thickness increased in lateral femoral and lateral trochlea compartments and not in medial compartment. These results, in addition to an improvement of T2 mapping score suggest a positive structural effect of the product. Interestingly, WORMS effusion score, an indicator of synovitis, significantly decreased. Finally, global KOOS score and subscales significantly increased overtime while pain at rest, walking pain and patients or investigators global assessment of disease activity decreased. The safety profile was favorable with a low incidence of injection-site pain.

CONCLUSION

HYMOVIS®, a well-tolerated intra-articular treatment, significantly enhanced type II collagen turnover as suggested by the increase in Coll2-1 and PIIANP levels and cartilage volume observed by MRI in lateral knee compartment. Importantly, this study provides critical information for the design of a larger phase III clinical trial investigating Disease Modifying effect of HYMOVIS®.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12227846 11/02/2015.

Developing a toolkit for the assessment and monitoring of musculoskeletal ageing

The complexities and heterogeneity of the ageing process have slowed the development of consensus on appropriate biomarkers of healthy ageing. The Medical Research Council–Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA) is a collaboration between researchers and clinicians at the Universities of Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle. One of CIMA’s objectives is to ‘Identify and share optimal techniques and approaches to monitor age-related changes in all musculoskeletal tissues, and to provide an integrated assessment of musculoskeletal function’—in other words to develop a toolkit for assessing musculoskeletal ageing. This toolkit is envisaged as an instrument that can be used to characterise and quantify musculoskeletal function during ‘normal’ ageing, lend itself to use in large-scale, internationally important cohorts, and provide a set of biomarker outcome measures for epidemiological and intervention studies designed to enhance healthy musculoskeletal ageing. Such potential biomarkers include: biochemical measurements in biofluids or tissue samples, in vivo measurements of body composition, imaging of structural and physical properties, and functional tests. This review assesses candidate biomarkers of musculoskeletal ageing under these four headings, details their biological bases, strengths and limitations, and makes practical recommendations for their use. In addition, we identify gaps in the evidence base and priorities for further research on biomarkers of musculoskeletal ageing.

Osteoarthritis year in review 2015: soluble biomarkers and the BIPED criteria

OBJECTIVE

To review and summarize biomarker data published from April 2014 to May 2015 to provide insight to the ongoing work in the field of osteoarthritis (OA). Furthermore, to summarize the BIPED criteria and set it in context of the medical needs of 2015.

METHODS

PubMed was used as searching machine: Time period 2014/04/01-2015/05/01, MeSH term [Biomarker] AND [Osteoarthritis], Language; English, Full text available. Reviews were excluded. Only papers describing protein based biomarkers measured in human body fluids from OA patients were included.

RESULTS

Biomarkers of joint tissue turnover, cytokines, chemokines and peptide arrays were measured in different cohorts and studies. Amongst those were previously tested biomarkers such as osteocalcin, Carboxy-terminal cross-linked fragment of type II collagen (CTX-II) and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). A majority of the biomarker were classified as I, B or B biomarkers according to the BIPED criteria. Work is continuing on testing biomarkers in OA. There is still a huge, unmet medical need to identify, test, validate and qualify novel and well-known biomarkers. A pre-requisite for this is better characterization and classification of biomarkers to their needs, which may not be reached before higher understanding of OA phenotypes has been gained. In addition, we provide some references to some recent guidelines from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) on qualification and usage of biomarkers for drug development and personalized medicine, which may provide value to the field.

Effect of denosumab on Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a dose-response study of AMG 162 (Denosumab) in patients with RheumatoId arthritis on methotrexate to Validate inhibitory effect on bone Erosion (DRIVE)-a 12-month, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II clinical trial

Objectives

To evaluate efficacy and safety of three different regimens of denosumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody to receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) ligand (RANKL), for Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

In this multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled phase II study, 350 Japanese patients with RA between 6 months and <5 years, stratified by glucocorticoid use and rheumatoid factor status, were randomly assigned to subcutaneous injections of placebo or denosumab 60 mg every 6 months (Q6M), every 3 months (Q3M) or every 2 months (Q2M). All patients basically continued methotrexate treatment and had a supplement of calcium and vitamin D throughout the study. The primary endpoint was change in the modified Sharp erosion score from baseline to 12 months.

Results

Denosumab significantly inhibited the progression of bone erosion at 12 months compared with the placebo, and the mean changes of the modified Sharp erosion score at 12 months from baseline were 0.99, 0.27 (compared with placebo, p=0.0082), 0.14 (p=0.0036) and 0.09 (p<0.0001) in the placebo, Q6M, Q3M and Q2M, respectively. Secondary endpoint analysis revealed that denosumab also significantly inhibited the increase of the modified total Sharp score compared with the placebo, with no obvious evidence of an effect on joint space narrowing for denosumab. As shown in previous studies, denosumab increased bone mineral density. No apparent difference was observed in the safety profiles of denosumab and placebo.

Conclusions

Addition of denosumab to methotrexate has potential as a new therapeutic option for patients with RA with risk factors of joint destruction.

Trial registration number

JapicCTI-101263.