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Extended report
Oxidative damage in synovial tissue is associated with in vivo hypoxic status in the arthritic joint
  1. Monika Biniecka1,
  2. Aisling Kennedy1,
  3. Ursula Fearon1,
  4. Chin Teck Ng1,
  5. Douglas J Veale1,
  6. Jacintha N O'Sullivan2
  1. 1Department of Rheumatology, Dublin Academic Health Care, St Vincent's University Hospital and The Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, Dublin, Ireland
  2. 2Centre for Colorectal Disease, St Vincent's University Hospital and The Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, Dublin Academic Health Care, Dublin, Ireland
  1. Correspondence to Dr Jacintha N O'Sullivan, Centre for Colorectal Disease, Education and Research Centre, St Vincent's University Hospital and The Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, Elm Park, Dublin Academic Health Care, Dublin 4, Ireland; jacintha.osullivan{at}ucd.ie

Abstract

Objectives To assess levels of oxidative DNA damage (8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanine; 8-oxo-dG) and lipid peroxidation (4-hydroxy-2-nonenal; 4-HNE) in serum, synovial fluid and tissue of patients with inflammatory arthritis in relation to in vivo hypoxia levels, disease activity and angiogenic markers.

Methods Oxygen levels in synovial tissue were assessed using an oxygen/temperature probe. Nuclear and cytoplasmic 8-oxo-dG and 4-HNE levels were assessed in synovial tissue from 23 patients by immunohistochemistry. 8-Oxo-dG and 4-HNE levels in serum and synovial fluid were determined using 8-oxo-dG and hexanoyl-Lys (HEL) adduct ELISAs, respectively. Serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin 2 (Ang2) levels were also measured by ELISA.

Results The median oxygen tension in synovial tissue was profoundly hypoxic at 19.35 mm Hg (2.5%). Nuclear 8-oxo-dG levels were significantly higher than nuclear 4-HNE levels in the lining and sublining layers (all p<0.001). In contrast, cytoplasmic 4-HNE levels were higher than cytoplasmic 8-oxo-dG levels in both cell layers (all p<0.001). Reduced in vivo oxygen tension correlated with high lipid peroxidation in synovial fluid (p=0.027; r=0.54) and tissue (p=0.004; r=0.58). Serum VEGF levels were positively correlated with cytoplasmic 4-HNE expression (p=0.05; r=0.43) and intensity (p=0.006; r=0.59) in the lining layer. Serum Ang2 levels were positively correlated with nuclear 4-HNE expression and intensity in both cell layers (all p≤0.05). DAS28-C-reactive protein was correlated with nuclear 4-HNE expression in the sublining layer (p=0.02; r=0.48) and DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate was correlated with nuclear 4-HNE expression in both cell layers (p≤0.03).

Conclusions Lipid peroxidation is associated with low oxygen tension in vivo, disease activity and angiogenic marker expression in inflammatory arthritis.

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Footnotes

  • Competing interests None.

  • Patient consent Obtained.

  • Ethics approval This study was conducted with the approval of the St Vincent's University Hospital ethics committee.

  • Provenance peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.