OBJECTIVES : Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, progressive, degenerative joint disease. The pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) is not clear. Although 1-phosphate sphingosine (S1P) plays an important role in arthritis, its effect on osteoarthritis remains unknown. Matrix metalloproteinases 3(MMP3)has been found in recent years in articular cartilage disease, chronic synovial inflammation and autoimmune diseases,were significantly increased. This study is to explore how S1P affects MMP3 and leads to osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS : RESULTS : The serum levels of S1P (0.149 ± 0.037 pg / ml) and MMP3 (225.79 ± 29.70 pg / ml) in the early OA group were significantly higher than S1P (0.065 ± 0.026 pg / ml) and MMP3 (59.62 ± 19.38 pg / ml) in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P <0.05).In the Spearman's correlation analysis, S1P was found to be positively associated with serum levels of MMP-3(R =0.722, P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONS : levels of S1P and MMP3 may increase in the early stage of OA. S1P caused a significant increase in MMP3 levels and lead to OA.