Programmed cell death 5 (PDCD5), a novel apoptotic regulatory gene, has been reported to be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA), which can regulate the apoptosis of synoviocytes and chondrocytes cultured in vitro.
To study expression characteristic of PDCD5 in plasma and synovial fluid of RA patients, and analyze its correlation with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and disease activity in RA.
A total of 135 subjects were recruited into this study (44 RA patients, 46 OA patients and 45 healthy controls). PDCD5 and TNF-α concentrations in plasma and synovial fluid were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Plasma and synovial fluid PDCD5 concentrations were significantly elevated in RA patients. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that plasma and synovial fluid PDCD5 levels were inversely correlated with TNF-α. Moreover, plasma PDCD5 levels were also inversely correlated with C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
Plasma and synovial fluid PDCD5 could be useful for monitoring the activity and progression of RA, and its abnormal expression and dysfunction may be correlated to TNF-α in RA patients.