Expression of CCR3, SOX5 and LC3 in patients with elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis and the clinical significance

This study investigated the expression of C-C chemokine receptor type 3 (CCR3), transcription factor SOX5 (SOX5) and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) in patients with elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) and the clinical significance. Ninety patients with elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis were selected in our hospital from January to December in 2016 to serve as patient group. At the same time, 50 healthy people were selected as control group. Levels of CCR3, SOX5 and LC3 in serum of two groups were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expression levels of CCR3, SOX5 and LC3 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were detected by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). Expression level of CCR3 mRNA in patient group was 0.752±0.054, which was significantly higher than that in control group (0.287±0.032, t=8.932, P<0.05). Levels of CCR3, SOX5 and LC3 in serum of patients in patient group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05). Positive correlations were found between serum levels of CCR3 and SOX5 (r=0.613, P<0.05), serum levels of CCR3 and LC3 (r=0.637, P<0.05), and serum levels of SOX5 and LC3 (r=0.645, P<0.05). CCR3, SOX5 and LC3 are highly expressed in PBMC and serum, which may be closely related to the occurrence and development of EORA. These indexes may be used as indicators of clinical diagnosis and prognosis of patients with EORA.