Role of Serum Tenascin-C (TNC) in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of unknown etiology affecting approximately 1% of world population. The synovium of the small joints of hands and feet is the first structure affected. The subsequent inflammatory changes lead to cartilage and bone destruction. Tenascins are extra cellular matrix glycoprotein's. They are abundant in extra cellular matrix of developing vertebrate and reappears around healing wounds and in some tumors. Tenascin–C is a pro-inflammatory extracellular matrix glycoprotein. Its expression in adults is restricted to sites of tissue injury, particularly during phases of inflammation and active tissue injury. This study was designed to assess the role of serum TNC in RA and correlation with activity and severity of disease. The study also compared TNC between seropositive and seronegative patients. In the present study 40 patients with RA who fulfilled ACR /EULAR 2010 classification criteria were recruited and 20 apparently healthy persons. The selected RA patients were classified into 23 seropositive and 17 seronegative patients. All included patients were subjected to detailed medical history taking, with special emphasis on RA activity symptoms, RA duration in years and extra – articular manifestations. General and local musculoskeletal examination were performed for all patients as well as laboratory investigations (complete blood count, ESR, RF, Anti CCP, TNC serum level), X-ray hands. This was followed by assessment of disease activity using DAS28.