Abstract:

 Objective  To detect expression of ADAMTS-4, ADAMTS-5, MMP-1, MMP-3 in the serum of early and late osteoarthritis(OA) patients, and to explore the different effects of ADAMTS and MMP on OA patients. Methods  70 cases were divided into early OA(44 cases) and late OA(26 cases) groups according to Recht’s standard. The control group involved 30 cases. Expression of ADAMTS-4, ADAMTS-5, MMP-1, MMP-3 in the three groups were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)and represented by optical densities (OD).  Results  ADAMTS-4 had higher expression in the early OA group than  in the late OA group (P<0.05).  ADAMTS-5, MMP-1, MMP-3 had lower expression in the early OA group than  in the late OA group (P<0.05). Only a few ADAMTS-4,-5 and MMP-1 were expressed in the control group. Conclusion  Aggrecanases have high expression in the early and late OA groups and MMPs have high expression in late OA, and ADAMTS-4 has value in the early diagnosis of OA.

Key words: Aggrecanase; Matrix metalloproteinase; Osteoarthritis