Association Study of Matrix Metalloproteinases Gene Polymorphisms with Susceptibility to Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Meta-Analysis

Association between matrix metalloproteinase-9-1562C/T gene polymorphism and MMP-9 serum level in rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease indicated by joint inflammation and cartilage destruction. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes play an influential role in inflammation by affecting the invasion and degradation of anatomical barriers. In this way, the current study investigated the relationship between the MMP-9-1562C/T gene polymorphism and this enzyme's serum level in RA.

METHODS

The serum levels of MMP-9 in RA patients and healthy controls were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RA was confirmed using rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Then the MMP-9-1562C/T gene polymorphism was analyzed utilizing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Also, multivariate analysis investigated the connection between this polymorphism and the risk of RA.

RESULTS

In this study, the increase of MMP-9 in patients due to the development of single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of this gene (-1562 C→T) was confirmed by increasing the frequency of heterozygous genotype (CT). Logistic regression analysis also demonstrated that the chance of development of RA is higher in people with CT/CC genotype than in other alleles.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that MMP-9-1562C/T gene polymorphism can play a significant role in the occurrence of RA.

Association between matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) protein level and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis

Recent publications have investigated the potential role of the protein level of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) in the susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). However, no unanimous conclusion was obtained. Therefore, we carried out a meta-analysis to explore the association between MMP-1 expression and these two clinical disorders. After database searching and screening, we enrolled a total of eighteen articles for the pooled analysis. We observed a significant association between RA cases and controls in the whole population [SMD (standard mean difference)=1.01, P=0.017]. There were similar positive results in the subgroup analysis of “population-based control” (SMD=1.50, P=0.032) and “synovial fluid” (SMD=1.32, P=0.049). In addition, we observed an increased risk in OA cases, compared with controls, in the overall analysis (SMD=0.47, P=0.004) and subsequent subgroup analysis of “knee OA” (SMD=0.86, P<0.001), “Asian/China” (SMD=0.76, P=0.003), “cartilage-Asian/China” (SMD=1.21, P<0.001), and “synovial fluid-Asian/China” (SMD=0.73, P=0.004). In summary, a high protein level of MMP-1 in synovial fluid may be associated with the susceptibility to RA, and the high MMP-1 level in the cartilage tissue or synovial fluid may be related to the pathogenesis of knee OA in the Chinese population. This should be confirmed by larger sample sizes.

Association of Glutathione S-Transferase M1 null genotype with inflammatory bowel diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD) are the 2 main types of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Several studies have been conducted to investigate the association of Glutathione S-Transferase M1 (GSTM1) null genotype with UC and CD, but the results are inconsistent. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to clarify this controversy based on relative large sample size.

METHODS

A systematic article searching was conducted in the PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, WOS, ProQuest, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Chinese Wanfang databases up to August 31, 2019. Meta-analysis results were synthesized by using crude odds ratio (OR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis, subgroup analysis, and publication bias were assessed by using STATA 11.0 software.

RESULTS

A total of 15 relevant studies including 4353 IBDs patients (1848 CD cases, 2505 UC cases) and 5413 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Totally, we found a significant association between GSTM1 null genotype and risk to IBDs in the overall populations (OR = 1.37, 95%CI = 1.13-1.65, P = .001). Stratified by ethnicity, we found a significant association between GSTM1 null genotype and risk to IBDs in the Asian population (OR = 2.54, 95%CI = 2.15-3.00, P = .001), but not in the Caucasian population. Stratified by disease type, we found a significant association between GSTM1 null genotype with CD in the Asian population (OR = 2.37, 95%CI = 1.11-5.06, P = .026), and with UC in the Asian (OR = 2.48, 95%CI = 1.93-3.20, P = .001) population. In addition, funnel plot and Egger linear regression test suggests no publication bias in all genetic models.

CONCLUSION

GSTM1 null genotype is associated with susceptibility to IBD, UC, and CD in the Asian population. Further well-designed studies are still needed to confirm these findings.

Association of Fucosyltransferase 2 Gene Variant with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are the 2 main type of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Several studies have been conducted to investigate the association of fucosyltransferase 2 gene (rs601338) variant with UC and CD, but the results were inconsistent. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to clarify this issue based on a relatively larger sample size. MATERIAL AND METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, CNKI, and Chinese Wangfang databases up to 31 May 2018. Meta results were synthesized by using crude odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. Heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis, subgroup analysis, and publication bias were assessed using STATA 11.0 software. RESULTS A total of 8 relevant studies including 3874 IBDs patients (1872 UC cases, 2002 CD cases) and 5445 controls were included for meta-analysis. We found a significant association between rs601338 A allele and risk of IBDs in the Chinese population (OR=2.35, 95%CI=1.66~3.34, P=0.001), but not in whites. Stratified by disease type, we found a significant association between rs601338 polymorphism with CD and UC in the Chinese population, but not in the white population. In addition, funnel plot and Egger's linear regression test suggests no publication bias in all genetic models. CONCLUSIONS Fucosyltransferase 2 gene (rs601338) polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to IBD, UC, and CD in the Chinese population, but these results might not be generalizable to other ethnic populations. Further well-designed studies are needed to confirm these findings.

MMP-2: is too low as bad as too high in the cardiovascular system?

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 cleaves a broad spectrum of substrates, including extracellular matrix components (responsible for normal tissue remodeling) and cytokines (modulators of the inflammatory response to physiological insults such as tissue damage). MMP-2 expression is elevated in many cardiovascular pathologies (e.g., myocardial infarction, hypertensive heart disease) where tissue remodeling and inflammatory responses are perturbed. Thus, it has generally been assumed that blockade of MMP-2 activity will yield therapeutic effects. Here, we provide a counterargument to this dogma based on 1) preclinical studies on Mmp2-null ( Mmp2−/−) mice and 2) clinical studies on patients with inactivating MMP2 gene mutations. Furthermore, we put forward the hypothesis that, when MMP-2 activity falls below baseline, the bioavailability of proinflammatory cytokines normally cleaved and inactivated by MMP-2 increases, leading to the production of cytokines and cardiac secretion of phospholipase A2activity into the circulation, which stimulate systemic inflammation that perturbs lipid metabolism in target organs. Finally, we suggest that insufficient understanding of the consequences of MMP-2 deficiency remains a major factor in the failure of MMP-2 inhibitor-based therapeutic approaches. This paucity of knowledge precludes our ability to effectively intervene in cardiovascular and noncardiovascular pathologies at the level of MMP-2.

miR-26a-5p Regulates Synovial Fibroblast Invasion in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis by Targeting Smad 1

BACKGROUND We studied the expression and effect of miR-26a-5p in synovial fibroblast in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIAL AND METHODS The synovial tissues of 55 RA patients with total knee arthroplasty performed from January 2016 to December 2016 were collected as the RA group, and 62 patients without RA history amputation or total knee arthroplasty served as the control group. The expressions of miR-26a-5p and Smad 1 mRNA in synovial fibroblast in patients with RA were detected by qPCR; The expression of Smad 1 and TGF-β1 protein in synovial tissue or synovial fibroblasts was detected by immunoblotting. Transwell assay was used to detect the invasive ability of synovial fibroblasts. RESULTS The expression of miR-26a-5p and Smad 1 in synovial fibroblast in patients with RA were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The expression of miR-26a-5p in synovial tissue of RA patients was positively correlated with the expression of Smad 1 mRNA (r=0.8982, P<0.001). The luciferase system showed that miR-26a-5p targeting synovial membrane FLS cells (P<0.05); the expression of MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13, and TGF-b1 protein and mRNA in the synovial FLS cells of RA patients was significantly decreased; and the expression of miR-26a-5p was significantly decreased in FLS cells with invasive ability. CONCLUSIONS miR-26a-5p is highly expressed in synovial tissue of patients with RA, and its high expression can improve the invasive ability of synovial fibroblasts by targeting Smad 1 gene and accelerating the progression of RA.

Jatrorrhizine Hydrochloride Suppresses Proliferation, Migration, and Secretion of Synoviocytes In Vitro and Ameliorates Rat Models of Rheumatoid Arthritis In Vivo

Jatrorrhizine hydrochloride (JH), an active component isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Coptis chinensis, has been reported to have antimicrobial, antitumor, antihypercholesterolemic, and neuroprotective activities. However, its antirheumatoid arthritis (RA) property remains unknown. In this study, a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model was used to evaluate the therapeutic effects of JH on RA by using arthritis score, radiological evaluation, and histopathological assessment. The in vitro effects of JH on proliferation, migration, and production of inflammatory mediators in RA-derived fibroblast-like synoviocyte MH7A cells were determined by the EdU incorporation assay, wound healing assay, real-time PCR, and ELISA, respectively. The in vivo studies showed that JH treatment significantly prevented the progression and development of RA in CIA rats through anti-inflammation and suppressing bone destruction. The in vitro studies revealed that JH could effectively attenuate the destructive phenotypes of MH7A cells, including inhibiting proliferation, migration, and production of inflammatory mediators. Further mechanistic analysis demonstrated that JH suppressed tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)-stimulated activations of nuclear factor of kappaB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) (ERK and p38) leading to the downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, which might be beneficial to the antiproliferative and antimigratory activities of FLS cells. Collectively, our results demonstrated that JH has a great potential to be developed into a novel therapeutic agent for treating RA.

Association between interleukin 37 (rs3811047) polymorphism and multiple autoimmune diseases in a Chinese population: A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Emerging evidence suggests that interleukin 37 (IL-37) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases (ADs), but the correlations are still unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to explore whether IL-37 gene (rs3811047) polymorphism was associated with susceptibility to multiple ADs in a Chinese population.

METHODS

Relevant studies were searched in the PubMed, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Wangfang databases up to August 31, 2017. Odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was used to estimate the strength of the association in different genetic models. The results of fixed or random models were adopted according to the heterogeneity. Publication bias and sensitive analysis were also performed to evaluate the reliability of results.

RESULTS

A total of 3161 patients and 4078 controls from 6 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Pooling all data together, a significant association between IL-37 gene (rs3811047 A/G) polymorphism and susceptibility to ADs in the Chinese population was found in all 4 genetic models (allelic model A vs G: OR = 0.73 95% CI = 0.67∼0.79; recessive model AA + AG vs GG: OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.65∼0.79; dominant model AA vs AG + GG: OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.45∼0.77; homozygous model AA vs GG: OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.42∼0.72). No heterogeneity and publication bias was detected in all models. Sensitive analysis indicated that all of the positive results are reliable.

CONCLUSION

The IL- 37 (rs3811047) polymorphism contributes to the development of ADs in a Chinese population.

Association Between Osteoprotegerin Gene Polymorphisms and Rheumatoid Arthritis Susceptibility: A Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

We undertook this study to assess the association between osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility.

METHODS

English language databases of PubMed Medline and OVID EMBASE and Chinese databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and Wanfang were searched to identify case-control studies studied the relationship between OPG gene polymorphisms and RA susceptibility. Two reviewers separately and repeatedly screened searched studies according to study selection criteria and collected data. Data analyses of five comparison models-allelic model, heterozygote model, homozygote model, dominant model and recessive model-were conducted in Review Manager Software 5.1.

RESULTS

A total of five studies including 1713 RA cases and 1845 controls were eligible in this meta-analysis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs3102735 T/C or A/G, rs2073618 G/C and rs3134069 T/G, of OPG gene were studied. Data from five studies of SNPs rs3102735 were OR = 1.22, 95% CI 0.86-1.73, OR = 1.06, 95% CI 0.86-1.32, OR = 1.79, 95% CI 0.65-4.89, OR = 1.16, 95% CI 0.85-1.59, OR = 1.73, 95% CI 0.67-4.46, respectively, for the five comparison models in order. For SNPs rs2073618, results derived from three studies were OR = 1.06, 95% CI 0.95-1.19, OR = 1.11, 95% CI 0.94-1.31, OR = 1.09, 95% CI 0.84-1.42, OR = 1.10, 95% CI 0.94-1.30, OR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.84-1.30, respectively. With respect to SNPs rs3134069, only one study assessed the associations, reporting no statistically significant results among the five comparison models.

CONCLUSION

SNPs rs3102735, rs2073618 and rs3134069 of OPG gene polymorphisms are not susceptibility factors of RA based on currently available evidence.