To explore the roles of bone metabolism-related molecules in bone metabolic disturbance and disease progression of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
A total of 66 RA patients and 20 healthy controls were included, and their relevant clinical information was gathered. Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) was used to detect the levels of osteocalcin N-terminal middle (OC-N-MID) and C-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type 1 collagen (CTX) in serum. The serum levels of Wnt inhibitory factor Dickkopf1 (DKK1) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) were determined by magnetic luminex assays. Flow cytometry was used to detect the RANKL level on peripheral blood T cells.
Compared with healthy controls, the levels of OC-N-MID and CTX in the sera of the RA patients showed no significant difference. Level of RANKL in the sera of the RA patients was higher than that in the controls, while level of DKK1 was lower. The level of RANKL on peripheral blood T cells increased in the RA patients, especially on CD3(+) T cells.
In RA patients, level of RANKL on T cells is elevated, and the serum level of RANKL increases, but DKK1 decreases.