Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase-17 in knee osteoarthritis and its association with disease severity

MMP-17 plays a vital role in the activation of ADAMTS4, a key aggrecanase involved in cartilage degradation and Osteoarthritis development. The present study focused on MMP-17 expression in patients with knee OA and its advancement. A total of 98 study subjects were enrolled (n=98), of which 49 were cases and 49 controls. Quantitative estimation of MMP-17 in serum and synovial fluid of study subjects was assessed by sandwich ELISA and statistically analyzed by one way ANOVA, bivariate analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The mean value of Serum MMP-17 was significantly higher in cases than controls (15.43 +/- 0.91 vs 14.71 +/- 1.04ng/ml respectively). ROC curve cut off value was 14.82ng/ml (75.5% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity), which increased with disease severity. The value >15ng/ml in serum had approximately 11 fold risk of OA [OR=11.333, 95% CI=(2.209-58.147)]. SF MMP-17 were assessed only from OA patients due to ethical concerns and the level >4.6ng/ml had 27.5 times higher risk for disease severity [OR=27.556, 95% CI=(3.031-250.524)]. The levels of MMP-17 in serum and synovial fluid were significantly associated with knee OA and its severity. Thus serum MMP-17 level could be a potential marker for knee OA and may be a target for therapeutics.