The association among 14-3-3η protein, inflammation, bone remodeling and osteoporosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation among 14-3-3η protein, inflammation, bone remodeling and osteoporosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the RA patients treated in our hospital were analyzed between January 2015 and November 2019. Bone mineral density was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and at the beginning of the study, serum samples were collected and the level of 14-3-3η, TNF-α, and IL-6 was tested using the quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and I-CTX and PINP were measured using automatic electrochemical luminescence immune-analyzer for all the participants. RESULTS: In the current study, 285 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were enrolled and assigned into normal, osteopenia, and osteoporotic group respectively. The level of 14-3-3η and IL-6 presented with the highest value in the osteoporosis group, but the lowest value in the normal group, and there were significant differences in the level of 14-3-3η and IL-6 among the groups (p<0.05), and there was positive correlation between 14-3-3η and IL-6 (p<0.05). There were significant differences in PINP and I-CTX among the three groups (p<0.05), and a significantly positive correlation between I-CTX and 14-3-3η (p<0.05) and a significantly negative correlation between PINP and 14-3-3η (p<0.05) were found. CONCLUSION: There was a significant correlation among 14-3-3η protein, inflammation, bone remodeling and osteoporosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the influence of 14-3-3η on osteoporosis may be contributed to its adjusting inflammation and bone remodeling.