THE ASSOCIATION OF PERIPHERAL MONOCYTE-DERIVED INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA (IL-1-BETA), IL-1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST, AND TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS IN THE ELDERLY

Objective. To examine the association of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) derived interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-1 receptor anta gonist (IL-1Ra), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and radiogra phic osteoarthritis (OA) in the elderly. Methods. A total of 703 subje cts (436 women, 267 men, mean age 78.5 +/- 3.5 yrs) had both knee and hand radiographs, and cytokines were measured during the 22nd biennial examination of the Framingham Cohort. PBMC derived IL-1 beta, IL-1Ra, and TNF-a production was assessed using a non-cross reacting polyclon al radioimmunoassay, Knee OA was defined as a score of greater than or equal to 2 using a modified Kellgren and Lawrence scale. The presence of osteophytes and joint space narrowing were scored separately db a 0-3 scale, in which disease was defined a priori as a score >0 for eac h feature. Sex-specific odds ratios were calculated for knee OA after adjusting for weight, history of knee injury, and use of estrogen and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Results, No uniform associations were found for IL-1 beta or IL-1Ra in men, or for TNF-alpha production and radiographic OA in either sex. We found possible associations for the highest levels of IL-1 beta production and the presence of knee o steophytes [OR = 2.0 (1.2-3.5)] and joint space narrowing [OR = 1.7 (1 .1-2.8)] in women. Our data suggested a possible protective effect for IL-1Ra production and hand OA in women [OR = 0.6 (0.4-1.0)]. Conclusi on. We found no consistent association of PBMC cytokine production and radiographic OA. However. women with the highest production of IL-1 b eta and IL-1Ra had respectively higher rates of knee OA and lower rate s of hand OA than expected.