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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Non-invasive In Vivo Fluorescence Optical Imaging of Inflammatory MMP Activity Using an Activatable Fluorescent Imaging Agent
Published on: May 8, 2017
[Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 is not effective for evaluating hemophilic arthropathy]
Kyoichi Ogata1, Kagehiro Amano, Hiromoto Kato
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan. ogata-tu@tokyo-med.ac.jp
Abstract:
Serum matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 3 is a marker that is directly associated with the joint cartilage destruction. In cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), serum MMP-3 increases as the synovium becomes inflamed, which is one of the causal factors of joint destruction. Similarly, it may increase even in hemophilic arthropathy, thereby causing inflammation of the synovium. In order to determine whether MMP-3 can act as an indicator of arthrosis in hemophilic arthropathy, we evaluated serum MMP-3 in terms of patients' subjective symptoms of hemophilic arthropathy. 56 patients with mild to severe hemophilia were enrolled. We asked the patients to score the subjective joint mobility of 12 joints by using survey sheets of the joints. Symptoms for each joint were scored from 0 to 2 points (0: no symptoms, 1: minor difficulties, 2: difficulties). The maximum of joint score was 18 points, and the mean +/- SD was 5.1 +/- 4.7 points. The average of serum MMP-3 was 74.2 +/- 38.6 ng/ml, and only 5 cases exceeded the upper end of reference value of 121.0 ng/ml. The average joint score in the 5 cases was 6.8 points, which was slightly higher than the average (4.9 points) of the other cases. However, there was no statistical significant correlations between MMP-3 and the joint score. Also, there was no significant difference in serum MMP-3 between severity of hemophilia, symptom of bleeding and HIV positivity, respectively. In conclusion, these results suggested that serum MMP-3 was not useful for evaluating hemophilic arthropathy.
Insights
Serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) levels do not effectively indicate joint damage in hemophilic arthropathy. This study found no significant correlation between MMP-3 and subjective joint symptoms in hemophilia patients.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Rheumatology
- Hematology
Context:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) involves joint cartilage destruction linked to elevated serum matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3).
- Hemophilic arthropathy shares similarities with RA, including potential synovium inflammation and joint destruction.
- MMP-3 is a known biomarker for joint damage in various arthropathies.
Purpose:
- To investigate if serum MMP-3 levels can serve as an indicator of arthrosis in patients with hemophilic arthropathy.
- To evaluate the relationship between serum MMP-3 concentrations and subjective joint symptoms in hemophilia patients.
Summary:
- This study assessed serum MMP-3 in 56 patients with hemophilia, correlating levels with self-reported joint mobility scores.
- No statistically significant correlation was found between serum MMP-3 levels and the severity of subjective joint symptoms.
- Serum MMP-3 levels did not differ significantly based on hemophilia severity, bleeding symptoms, or HIV positivity.
Impact:
- The findings suggest that serum MMP-3 is not a reliable biomarker for assessing joint damage or disease activity in hemophilic arthropathy.
- This research may guide future biomarker investigations for hemophilic joint disease.
- Understanding MMP-3's role (or lack thereof) can refine diagnostic and monitoring strategies for hemophilic patients.
