Signal peptide-cub-egf domain containing protein (SCUBE) 1 ve 3 levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and relationship with disease activity

Objective: The purpose is to study levels of newly identified plasma signal peptide-CUP-EGF domain containing protein (SCUBE) 1and 3 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Moreover, to determine whether there exists any correlation between these proteins, other angiogenesis parameters and disease activities. Method: This study covers 106 patients diagnosed with RA associated with 2010 American Collage of Rheumatology (ACR) diagnosis criteria matched with healthy controllers who are equivalent of RA patients in terms of age and gender. All necessary data such as age , gender and body mass index of all participants were recorded. Detailed background information and examination of the patients are recorded and disease activity scores (DAS28) were figured out. The levels of SCUBE 1-3, Vascular Endotedial Groving Factor (VEGF), Matrix metaloproteinaz-9 (MM-9), Interlökin-6 (IL-6), CD40L are evaluated with the method of Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) in both patients and control group. Symptoms: This study covers 201 individuals 106 of whom were diagnosed with RA (82 women, 24 men ) and 95 of them were healthy controllers (64 women, 31 men). Age, body mass index (BMI) and gender distribution of both groups were very similar to one another. Significant differences were observed between RA patients and healthy controller groups in terms of SCUBE 1 (respectively1.28±1.41ng/mL, 0.94±0.67ng/mL p=0.002) and CD40 MMP-9 levels (p<0.001, p=0.012). Any meaningful difference was not detected between disease activity and SCUBE 1-3 and other angiogenesis markers. Any meaningful correlation was not determined between disease activities, SCUBE 1-3 and other parameters. Result: Levels of SCUBE might be considered as a significant marker in the disease pathogenesis independent from other parameters in the RA diagnosed patients. Key Words: Rheumatoid Arthritis, angiogenesis, SCUBE 1-3