[Relationship between the level of MCP-1 expression in sera of RA patients and ILD].

Aim: To investigate the function and clinical significance of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 MCP-1 in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)and the relation ship between the expression of MCP-1 in serum and interstitial lung disease (ILD) secondary from RA.

Methods: 60 patients with RA were divided into two groups: 30 cases with simple RA group and 30 cases with ILD secondary from RA (RA+ILD group). The control group incuided 20 healthy cases. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA ) was used to determine the serum expression of MCP-1 in patients healthy controls. The differences of MCP-1 level and other laboratory indexes (IgG, IgA, IgM, alpha2-G, gamma-G, RF, ESR, CRP, and the number of arthrocele) in different groups were compared with software spss13.0.

Results: The expression of MCP-1 in simple RA patients was significantly higher than that in the control group (P>0.05) and significantly lower than that in the RA+ILD group (P>0.01). The level of MCP-1 in serum of RA patieuts was positively correlated with IgG, IgM, and gamma-G.

Conclusion: MCP-1 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of RA and may contribute to the promotion of lung fibrosis in ILD secondary from RA.