The interleukin-6/gp130-associated Janus Kinases/STAT3 axis is known to play an important role in mediating inflammatory signals, resulting in production of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3). The hip joints with rapidly destructive coxopathy (RDC) demonstrate rapid chondrolysis, probably by increased production of MMP-3 observed in the early stage of RDC. In the recent study, no apparent activation of STAT3 has been shown in the synovial tissues obtained from the osteoarthritic joint at operation. However, no data are currently available on STAT3 activation in the synovial tissues in the early stage of RDC. This study aimed to elucidate STAT3 activation in the synovial tissues in the early stage of RDC. Synovial tissues within 7 months from the disease onset were obtained from four RDC patients with femoral head destruction and high serum levels of MMP-3. RDC synovial tissues showed the synovial lining hyperplasia with an increase of CD68-positive macrophages and CD3-positive T lymphocytes. STAT3 phosphorylation was found in the synovial tissues by immunohistochemistry using anti-phospho-STAT3 antibody. The majority of phospho-STAT3-positive cells were the synovial lining cells and exhibited negative expression of macrophage or T cell marker. Treatment with tofacitinib, a Janus Kinase inhibitor, resulted in a decrease in phospho-STAT3-positive cells, especially with high intensity, indicating effective suppression of STAT3 activation in RDC synovial tissues. Inhibitory effect of tofacitinib could act through the Janus Kinase/STAT3 axis in the synovial tissues in the early stage of RDC. Therefore, STAT3 may be a potential therapeutic target for prevention of joint structural damage in RDC.
This study aimed to evaluate sagittal spinopelvic alignment (SSPA) in the early stage of rapidly destructive coxopathy (RDC) compared with hip osteoarthritis (HOA), and to identify risk factors of SSPA for destruction of the femoral head within 12 months after the disease onset. This study enrolled 34 RDC patients with joint space narrowing > 2 mm within 12 months after the onset of hip pain and 25 HOA patients showing femoral head destruction. Sharp angle was measured for acetabular coverage evaluation. Femoral head collapse ratio was calculated for assessment of the extent of femoral head collapse by RDC. The following parameters of SSPA were evaluated using the whole spinopelvic radiograph: pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), pelvic incidence (PI), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), thoracic kyphosis angle (TK), lumbar lordosis angle (LL), and PI-LL.Aims
Methods
