Distinct expression of chemokine-like factor 1 in synovium of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract

Chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1) is a newly cloned chemotactic cytokine with CCR4 being its functional receptor. Recent evidence demonstrates a role of CKLF1 in arthritis. The aim of this study was to quantify the expression of CKLF1 as well as assess the correlation between CKLF1 and plasma acute-phase markers. Synovium was obtained from 16 osteoarthritis (OA), 15 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 10 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty, with other 11 patients treated for meniscal tears during sport accidents serving as normal controls. Levels of CKLF1 and CCR4 mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR, and the expression of CKLF1 was investigated by immunohistochemistry staining, subsequently analyzed with semiquantitative scores. Plasma acute-phase markers of inflammation were determined by ELISA. CKLF1 was found with a particularly up-regulated expression in synovim from AS and RA patients, and CCR4 mRNA levels increased in RA patients, not in OA or AS patients. Elevated levels of plasma markers of inflammation including CRP, ESR and D-dimer were observed in RA. Further, significantly positive correlations between relative expression levels of CKLF1 and CRP/ESR in RA patients and a positive correlation between CKLF1 and ESR in AS patients were found. There was no detectable correlation between CKLF1 and plasma D-dimer. This study confirms an increased but different level of CKLF1 in RA, OA and AS patients, all significantly higher than that in controls. Additionally, the significant positive correlations between CKLF1 levels and CRP/ESR in RA and between CKLF1 and ESR suggest that CKLF1 might contribute to the inflammation state and clinical symptoms in these rheumatic diseases. Further studies are required to investigate the utility of targeting specific CKLF1 for symptom control or disease modification in RA and AS.

Expression and clinical significance of CMTM1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

“…In the study of autoimmune diseases, it has been found that CMTM1 may be involved in the occurrence and development of arthritis by interacting with the C-C chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) [19]. In addition, CMTM1 is associated with the occurrence of rheumatic diseases [20]. CMTM1 has also been reported to be highly expressed in testis, localized in spermatogonial cells, and secreted into spermatogenic tubules to participate in male reproductive activities [17].…”

Identification of pathways significantly associated with spondyloarthropathy/ankylosing spondylitis using the sub‑pathway method

“…The second sub-pathway was the chemokine signaling pathway in the present analysis. Chemokines are crucial mediators in the inflammatory response, and in parallel, members of the chemokine system serve important roles in AS occurrence and progression ( 40 , 41 ). In addition, Chen et al ( 33 ) reported that SpA is associated with certain proinflammatory pathways, for example, the chemokine signaling pathway.…”

G-Protein-Coupled Receptors in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Recent Insights into Mechanisms and Functional Roles

“…The ligands of CCR4 include chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1), CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, CCL17, and CCL22 (22,31,51,52). CKLF1 is significantly positively correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (51). The expression of FLS in CCR4 may promote cell migration and proliferation (53).…”