The changes of signal peptide- CUB-EGF domain-containing protein (SCUBE) and other angiogenesis proteins during disease activity and relationship with the joint ultrasound findings in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The Changes of Signal Peptide- Cub-Egf Domain-Containing Protein (SCUBE) and Other Angiogenesis Proteins During Disease Activity and Relationship with the Joint Ultrasound Findings in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients. Objective: The purpose is to study levels of newly identified plasma signal peptide-Cub-Egf domain containing protein (SCUBE) 1 and 3 and other angiogenesis markers and analysis of changes after treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Moreover, to determine whether a correlation with this change in SCUBE proteins after treatment, clinical parameters and with joint ultrasound findings. Method: This study covers 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. Detailed background information and examination of the patients were recorded and disease activity scores (DAS28) were figured out and US7 scores were calculated. The levels of SCUBE 1-3, Vascular Endotedial Groving Factor (VEGF), Matrix metaloproteinaz-9 (MM-9), Interlökin-6 (IL-6), CD40L were evaluated with the method of Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA). Clinical and laboratory measurements were re-evaluated at the third month after treatment. Symptoms: This study covers 56 individuals; 28 of whom were diagnosed with RA and 28 of them were healthy controllers. Significant differences were observed between RA patients and healthy controller groups in terms of MMP-9 levels (p<0,05). Levels of SCUBE-1, SCUBE-3, VEGF, İL-6 ve CD-40 were similar (p>0,05).After treatment VEGF levels were significantly lower compared to pre- treatment(p<0,05), the changes in SCUBE-1, SCUBE-3, İL-6, CD-40 ve MMP-9 levels were not statistically significant ( p> 0.05). After treatment ultrasound scores were significantly lower than before treatment (p <0.05). Result: In our study, significant improvements were observed in clinical, laboratory and ultrasound findings after treatment. MMP-9 and VEGF were associated with disease activity. SCUBE proteins which have been newly identified markers of angiogenesis were shown no relationship with disease activity. Key Words: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Angiogenesis, SCUBE 1-3,US7 score