類風濕性關節炎病人血清中sCD23增高與急性反應蛋白CRP之關係

The Serum Levels of Soluble CD23 in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Its Correlation with C-reactive Protein

類風濕性關節炎是一種全身性自體免疫疾病，其病因主要為B細胞製造過多的類風濕性因子(Rheumatoid factor, RF)根據文獻報告這種免疫異常乃由於T抑制細胞(T8)缺乏所造成，由於B細胞及T抑制細胞被活化可分別表現CD23及CD8分子，並釋於血清中而被測得。本研究乃在探討類風濕性關節炎病人血清中的可溶性CD23(sCD23)及CD8(sCD8)並分析其與疾病發炎指標急性反應蛋白C-reactive protein(CRP)間之關係，結果顯示：類風濕性關節炎病人sCD23比正常人高，並且有統計學上的意義(17.4±2.0 V.s. 7.3±1.9 ng.ml; p<0.01)，但是sCD8在正常人與類風濕性關節炎病人之間沒有明顯差異(391.9±29.4 V.S 361.8±35.9 u/ml)，sCD23隨急性發炎蛋白(CRP)增加而上昇，兩者之間成正相關(r=0.42, p<0.002, n=16)，sCD23與sCD8，RF及血小板(Platelet)的關係不明顯。本研究結果顯示類風濕性關節炎病人血清的sCD23增加可以作為RA病人 關節發炎的一種指標，它可能是CRP之外另一種可靠的疾病活動指標。

We measured the serum levels of soluble CD23 (sCD23) and soluble CD8 (sCD8) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and correlating these markers with other laboratory parameters including C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factors (RF) and platelet count. SCD23 and sCD8 were determined by enzyme immunoassay. RF, CRP and platelet count were determined by nephelometer and coulter counter. Sixteen RA patients and six normal subjects were included in this study. The results showed that the serum levels of sCD23 was significantly increased in patients with RA (17.4 ± 2.0 vs 7.3 ± 1.9 ng/ml, p < 0.01) and correlated with the levels of CRP. There were no correlation either between sCD23 and RF or sCD23 and platelet count. The serum levels of sCD8 was neither elevated nor correlated with CRP, RF or platelat count in patients with RA. The results indicate that the serum levels of sCD23 may serve as an indicator for the disease activity as well as CRP in RA.