Synovitis biomarkers: ex vivo characterization of three biomarkers for identification of inflammatory osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE

Characterize biomarkers measuring extracellular matrix turnover of inflamed osteoarthritis synovium.

METHODS

Human primary fibroblast-like synoviocytes and synovial membrane explants (SMEs) treated with various cytokines and growth factors were assessed by C1M, C3M, and acMMP3 in the conditioned medium.

RESULTS

TNFα significantly increased C1M up to seven-fold (p = 0.0002), C3M up to 24-fold (p = 0.0011), and acMMP3 up to 14-fold (p < 0.0001) in SMEs. IL-1β also significantly increased C1M up to five-fold (p = 0.00094), C3M four-fold (p = 0.007), and acMMP3 18-fold (p < 0.0001) in SMEs.

CONCLUSION

The biomarkers C1M, C3M, and acMMP-3 were synovitis biomarkers ex vivo and provide a translational tool together with the SME model.