Association of Serum 14-3-3ƞ Protein level in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in a Tertiary care Hospital in Bangladesh

Author(s): Taskin Jahan, Ahmed Abu Saleh, Shaheda Anwar, Shaila Akhtar, Minhaj Rahim Choudhury

Aim: The study aimed to demonstrate the association of serum 14-3-3Ƞ protein level with Rheumatoid Arthritis and its disease severity. It also aimed to determine if the disease detection rate increased after the addition of this biomarker to current biomarkers.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative analysis. 40 diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria 2010, free from other rheumatological diseases and 40 healthy subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in this study. Serum 14-3-3Ƞ protein levels were determined by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).

Result: Mean serum concentration of 14-3-3Ƞ protein was significantly higher (P<0.001) in RA patients in comparison to healthy subjects. Sensitivity of 14-3-3Ƞ was higher (97.5%) than RF (90%) and anti-CCP (92.5%), but specificity was lower (90%), than RF (97.5%) and anti-CCP (100%). Serum 14-3-3Ƞ protein was significantly (P=0.04) associated with RA disease severity evaluated by Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28). Concentration of this protein was significantly correlated with RF level (p<0.05), DAS 28 score (P<0.05) and HAQ (p<0.01). In addition of 14-3-3η protein to RF and anti-CCP, diagnostic rate increased by 2.5%.

Conclusion: Serum 14-3-3η level was significantly higher in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to healthy subjects. It was associated with rheumatoid arthritis disease severity. It had a high sensitivity than RF and anti-CCP. Addition of 14-3-3η protein to RF and anti-CCP diagnostic rate of disease increased.