Adiponectin (APN) belongs to adipokines. Previous studies showed contradictory results that have both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We set out to detect the levels of APN and the correlations between APN and the clinical manifestations in RA patients. Sera of 60 newly diagnosed patients with RA and 29 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects were collected. Clinical parameters, including C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor (RF), antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide, disease activity score 28, and bone erosion conditions, were collected. The serum levels of total APN and high-molecular-weight APN (HMW-APN) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. As a result, total APN and HMW-APN levels were all lower in patients with RA compared with healthy controls. The levels of APN and HMW-APN were all positively correlated with CRP levels. There was also positive correlation between HMW-APN levels and RF levels. Moreover, patients with higher disease activities had higher HMW-APN levels; patients with more severe synovial thickening had higher APN and HMW-APN levels. Therefore, APN, especially HMW-APN, may play a regulatory role in RA.

中文翻译：

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脂联素与类风湿性关节炎临床表现之间的关联。

脂联素（APN）属于脂肪因子。先前的研究显示了对类风湿性关节炎 (RA) 具有促炎和抗炎作用的相互矛盾的结果。我们着手检测 APN 的水平以及 APN 与 RA 患者临床表现之间的相关性。收集了 60 名新诊断的 RA 患者和 29 名年龄和性别匹配的健康受试者的血清。收集临床参数，包括 C 反应蛋白 (CRP)、红细胞沉降率、类风湿因子 (RF)、环瓜氨酸肽抗体、疾病活动性评分 28 和骨侵蚀状况。酶联免疫吸附法检测血清总APN和高分子量APN（HMW-APN）水平。结果，与健康对照组相比，RA 患者的总 APN 和 HMW-APN 水平均较低。APN和HMW-APN水平均与CRP水平呈正相关。HMW-APN 水平和 RF 水平之间也存在正相关。此外，疾病活动度较高的患者具有较高的 HMW-APN 水平；滑膜增厚更严重的患者具有更高的 APN 和 HMW-APN 水平。因此，APN，尤其是HMW-APN，可能在RA中发挥调节作用。