AB0072 Association of the a Allele of the TNF Alpha-308 G/A Gene Polymorphism with the Activity of MMP-9 in the Plasma and Synovial Fluid of Patients Suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis

BackgroundProteolytic enzymes – Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP), have a significant role in the process of bone and cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).ObjectivesExamination of the influence of the TNF-α gene polymorphism on the production of MMP-9 in the plasma (PL) and synovial fluid (SF) of patients suffering from RA.MethodsThe examination included 72 patients with early RA and knee synovitis, receiving methotrexate therapy. RA diagnosis was established within 6 months from the onset of symptoms, based on the ACR/EULAR criteria from 2010. The control group comprised 25 examinees with knee osteoarthrosis (OA), who were comparable with the RA group according to their demographic characteristics (Table 1).Table 1GroupAge [year], X±SDNSex, Male/Female N/%RA60.59±11.297227 (37.5%)/45 (62.5%)OA-CG62.70±6.18256 (24%)/19 (76%)The -308 G/A gene polymorphism for TNF alpha was determined for all patients using the PCR-RFLP method. With regards to the presence of the A allele of the examined polymorphism, the patients were divided into two subgroups: subgroup A (G/A and A/A genotypes) and subgroup G (G/G genotype). The activity of MMP-9 was measured in PL and SF of all examinees using the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer (Amersham Biosciences, Little Chalfont, Great Britain). Statistical calculations were performed in the SPSS program, version 15.0ResultsThe activity of MMP-9 in PL and SF of the patients with RA is statistically significantly greater than the activity of this enzyme in PL and SF of the control group patients, with the statistically more significant difference (p