[Serum markers of synovitis and bone metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis].

Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) is a useful marker to evaluate the prognosis of joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) . The role of MMP-3 in immune cells, however, remains to be elucidated in the pathogenesis of RA. On the other hand, biologic therapies, including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) -blocking therapy, has been shown to reduce disease activity measures and joint damage progression ; however, the effects of biologic therapies on systemic osteoporosis remain to be elucidated in RA. In this article, we reviewed the literature on these issues after describing our hypothesis of the pathogenesis of synovitis in RA.