Expression Of MKK7 And MRNA In Synovium Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

ObjectiveRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease which severely destroy joints. Researchers believe that the abnormity of the cytokines'net is the basic mechanism and the effects. Previous studies proved that inhibiting the cytokines of the net significantly controlled the development of RA with the features of specificity and great effects. JNK path proves the importance in RA with two proteins-MKK4/7 in the middle-stream. We may conclude that this point is easy to inhibit and to get satisfied achievement. This study is going to detect the expression of MKK7 protein (both phosphor-MKK7 and non-phospho-MKK7) and mRNA in synovium of rheumatoid arthritis and to determine their functions in rheumatoid arthritis. Hopefully this study will contribute to the mechanism of RA and provide some theory to clinical therapy.MethodsThe specimens of test group were obtained form the synovium of ten RA patients under Debridement of joint and Total Knee surface Replacement in the First Hospital affiliated China Medical University from July 2006 to September 2007. Of them there were four men and six women with average 52.5 between 38 and 68. The specimens of two control groups were fetched from seven osteoarthritis patients and six normal people who needed Exploration or Total Knee surface Replacement at the same hospital and same period. Two primer were synthesized with the help of computer. The specimens from the synovium of RA, OA and normal people were detected by using RT-PCR techniques and Western-Blot techniques. Then the differences were compared. Some software was used to analyze the degree of grey. All data were collected for statistics with SPSS 11.5. P less than 0.05 represents a meaningful discrepancy.ResultsRT-PCR results showed that MKK7 mRNA was expressed in three groups and was higher in RA than in the other two groups. The difference was meaningful statistically. Western-Blot technique showed the expressions of either the phospro-MKK7 or non-prospro-MKK7 was higher in RA than that in the other two groups. Especially a significant discrepancy was demonstrated by using the phosphor-MKK7 (p<0.05).ConclusionThe content and activity of MKK7 in RA is closely correlated with the disease process, which may be the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. The inhibitor of MKK7 may alleviate the symptoms and postpone the course of RA.