Serum extracellular matrix biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis and their association with hand function

Port H, Coppers B, Tragl S, Manger E, Niemiec LM, Bayat S, Simon D, Fagni F, Corte G, Bay-Jensen AC, Tascilar K, Hueber A, Schmidt K, Schönau V, Sticherling M, Heinrich S, Leyendecker S, Bohr D, Schett G, Kleyer A, Nielsen SH, Liphardt AM (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Scientific Reports Nature Publishing Group: Open Access Journals - Option B

Book Volume: 15

Article Number: 13656

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-98395-0

Abstract

Inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, is characterized by physical function impairment. This becomes apparent even before arthritis onset, as in psoriasis (PsO). Chronic inflammation triggers an accelerated remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), resulting in released ECM fragments detectable in blood. We aimed to investigate levels of blood-based ECM biomarkers in patients with RA, PsA, PsO, and healthy controls and to explore the association of ECM biomarkers with hand function impairments. Patients with RA (n = 85), PsA (n = 115), PsO (n = 102) and controls (n = 110) were included in this cross-sectional study. ECM catabolic (C1M, C2M, C3M, C4M, PRO-C4, C6M, ARG), formation (PRO-C1, PRO-C3, PRO-C6) and inflammation biomarkers (VICM) were measured in serum from all patients. Objective hand function (fine motor skills (Moberg-Picking-Up Test), isometric grip strength (dynamometer) and patient-perceived hand function (Michigan Hand Questionnaire (MHQ)) were assessed. Patients with RA and PsA received treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. VICM levels were higher in RA, PsA, and PsO than in controls (p < 0.0001). PsA and PsO showed higher C4M levels compared to controls (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001), while C6M was lower in patients with RA, PsA and PsO than in controls (p < 0.0001, p < 0.001, p < 0.01). PsO presented with higher levels of C1M compared to controls and to RA (p < 0.001 and p < 0.0001). PRO-C6 correlated negatively with MHQ (ρ = -0.39, p < 0.01) and grip strength (ρ = -0.31, p < 0.05) in PsO, while only weak correlations were observed between biomarkers and hand function scores for RA and PsA patients (all ρ <  ± 0.2–0.3). Patients with RA, PsA, and PsO showed significant alterations in ECM remodeling biomarkers. Especially PsA and PsO had higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers compared to RA and controls, likely due to modulation by treatment. Predominantly in PsO, ECM formation biomarkers were associated with hand function impairments.

Authors with CRIS profile

Birte Coppers Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Sonja Liehr Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Eva Manger Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin III Lisa Maria Bieniek Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Sara Bayat Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology David Simon Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Filippo Fagni Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Koray Tascilar Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Axel Hueber Medizinische Fakultät Katja Schmidt Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Verena Schönau Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology Michael Sticherling Professur für Dermatologie Simon Heinrich Sonderforschungsbereich 1483/1 - Empathokinästhetische Sensorik - Sensortechniken und Datenanalyseverfahren zur empathokinästhetischen Modellbildung und Zustandsbestimmung (SFB EmpkinS) Sigrid Leyendecker Institute of Applied Dynamics Georg Schett Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin III Arnd Kleyer Medizinische Fakultät Anna-Maria Liphardt Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology

Additional Organisation(s)

Sonderforschungsbereich 1483/1 - Empathokinästhetische Sensorik - Sensortechniken und Datenanalyseverfahren zur empathokinästhetischen Modellbildung und Zustandsbestimmung (SFB EmpkinS)

Involved external institutions

University of Copenhagen DK Denmark (DK) Nordic Bioscience A/S DK Denmark (DK)

How to cite

APA:

Port, H., Coppers, B., Tragl, S., Manger, E., Niemiec, L.M., Bayat, S.,... Liphardt, A.-M. (2025). Serum extracellular matrix biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis and their association with hand function. Scientific Reports, 15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98395-0

MLA:

Port, Helena, et al. "Serum extracellular matrix biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis and their association with hand function." Scientific Reports 15 (2025).

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