| Popis: |
Midkine (MK) is expressed in synovial tissues of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and MK concentration are elevated in synovial fluid and serum of the vast majority of patients with the disease. Serum MK levels might aid the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, since 71.9% of patients that test negative for rheumatoid factor exhibited elevated levels. Mice deficient in the MK gene showed less symptom upon antibody-induced arthritis than did wild-type mice, indicating MK to be involved in the disease. MK is considered to contribute to the pathogenesis by enhancing the migration of inflammatory leukocytes, suppressing regulatory T cells, promoting the differentiation of osteoclasts and suppressing osteoblasts. In experiments in vitro, MK alone promoted osteoclastic differentiation from human macrophage-like cells, and MK and receptor activator of NF-ĸB ligand (RANKL) in combination promoted the differentiation of mouse macrophages. Inhibitors of MK might be useful for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Chondroitin sulfate E and siRNA to MK have already been shown to partially suppress antibody-induced arthritis. |
