Assessment of Intestinal Permeability and Inflammation Bio-Markers in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Increased intestinal permeability and inflammation, both fueled by dysbiosis, appear to contribute to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. This single-center pilot study aimed to investigate zonulin, a marker of intestinal permeability, and calprotectin, a marker of intestinal inflammation, measu...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/10/2386 |
| _version_ | 1797598750684741632 |
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| author | Christina Heidt Ulrike Kämmerer Manfred Fobker Andreas Rüffer Thorsten Marquardt Monika Reuss-Borst |
| author_facet | Christina Heidt Ulrike Kämmerer Manfred Fobker Andreas Rüffer Thorsten Marquardt Monika Reuss-Borst |
| author_sort | Christina Heidt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Increased intestinal permeability and inflammation, both fueled by dysbiosis, appear to contribute to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. This single-center pilot study aimed to investigate zonulin, a marker of intestinal permeability, and calprotectin, a marker of intestinal inflammation, measured in serum and fecal samples of RA patients using commercially available kits. We also analyzed plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels, a marker of intestinal permeability and inflammation. Furthermore, univariate, and multivariate regression analyses were carried out to determine whether or not there were associations of zonulin and calprotectin with LPS, BMI, gender, age, RA-specific parameters, fiber intake, and short-chain fatty acids in the gut. Serum zonulin levels were more likely to be abnormal with a longer disease duration and fecal zonulin levels were inversely associated with age. A strong association between fecal and serum calprotectin and between fecal calprotectin and LPS were found in males, but not in females, independent of other biomarkers, suggesting that fecal calprotectin may be a more specific biomarker than serum calprotectin is of intestinal inflammation in RA. Since this was a proof-of-principle study without a healthy control group, further research is needed to validate fecal and serum zonulin as valid biomarkers of RA in comparison with other promising biomarkers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:25:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2021d9db940346e2ad41714cec90f27f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:25:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-2021d9db940346e2ad41714cec90f27f2023-11-18T02:45:40ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432023-05-011510238610.3390/nu15102386Assessment of Intestinal Permeability and Inflammation Bio-Markers in Patients with Rheumatoid ArthritisChristina Heidt0Ulrike Kämmerer1Manfred Fobker2Andreas Rüffer3Thorsten Marquardt4Monika Reuss-Borst5University of Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, GermanyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, D-97080 Wuerzburg, GermanyCentre of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Muenster, D-48149 Muenster, GermanyLabor LS SE, D-97708 Bad Bocklet, GermanyDepartment of General Pediatrics, Metabolic Diseases, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus, D-48149 Muenster, GermanyHescuro Center for Rehabilitation and Prevention Bad Bocklet, D-97708 Bad Bocklet, GermanyIncreased intestinal permeability and inflammation, both fueled by dysbiosis, appear to contribute to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. This single-center pilot study aimed to investigate zonulin, a marker of intestinal permeability, and calprotectin, a marker of intestinal inflammation, measured in serum and fecal samples of RA patients using commercially available kits. We also analyzed plasma lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels, a marker of intestinal permeability and inflammation. Furthermore, univariate, and multivariate regression analyses were carried out to determine whether or not there were associations of zonulin and calprotectin with LPS, BMI, gender, age, RA-specific parameters, fiber intake, and short-chain fatty acids in the gut. Serum zonulin levels were more likely to be abnormal with a longer disease duration and fecal zonulin levels were inversely associated with age. A strong association between fecal and serum calprotectin and between fecal calprotectin and LPS were found in males, but not in females, independent of other biomarkers, suggesting that fecal calprotectin may be a more specific biomarker than serum calprotectin is of intestinal inflammation in RA. Since this was a proof-of-principle study without a healthy control group, further research is needed to validate fecal and serum zonulin as valid biomarkers of RA in comparison with other promising biomarkers.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/10/2386rheumatoid arthritiszonulincalprotectinLPSfecal short-chain fatty acidsfiber intake |
| spellingShingle | Christina Heidt Ulrike Kämmerer Manfred Fobker Andreas Rüffer Thorsten Marquardt Monika Reuss-Borst Assessment of Intestinal Permeability and Inflammation Bio-Markers in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Nutrients rheumatoid arthritis zonulin calprotectin LPS fecal short-chain fatty acids fiber intake |
| title | Assessment of Intestinal Permeability and Inflammation Bio-Markers in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| title_full | Assessment of Intestinal Permeability and Inflammation Bio-Markers in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Intestinal Permeability and Inflammation Bio-Markers in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Intestinal Permeability and Inflammation Bio-Markers in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| title_short | Assessment of Intestinal Permeability and Inflammation Bio-Markers in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| title_sort | assessment of intestinal permeability and inflammation bio markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis |
| topic | rheumatoid arthritis zonulin calprotectin LPS fecal short-chain fatty acids fiber intake |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/10/2386 |
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