Репозиторий Университета

© 2018 Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved. Research objective - comparative analysis of incidence and structure of anxiety-depressive spectrum disorders (ADD) in patients with various rheumatic diseases (RD). Materials and methods. 613 patients with RD were enrolled in the study: 180 with a reliable diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 128 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 110 with systemic sclerosis (SSc), 115 with Behcet's disease (BD), 80 with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Female prevailed in all groups (95% of patients with pSS, 88,2% - SSc, 87,2% - RA, 85,5% of SLE) except BD patients (70% male). The mean age was 42.3±1.54 years and was lower in patients with BD (33.3±0.98 years) and SLE (34.6±0.93 years) compared to patients with SSc (49.9±2.47 years), RA (47.4±0.99 years) and pSS (46.2±2.3 years). The mean RD duration was 130,0±8,65 months and was more at BD - 148,5±10,4 months, pSS - 141,6±8,92 months, RA - 138,4±10,1months, and less at SLE - 134,9±8,8 months and SSc - 87,0±5,04 months. The mean SLE activity index SLEDAI was 9,13±0,63 points (high), RA (DAS28) - 5,26±0,17 points (high), BD (BDCAF) - 3,79±0,2 points (moderate) and SSc by G. Valentini - 1,1±0,20 points (moderate). Glucocorticoids took 100% of patients with pSS, 91,1% - SLE, 90% - SSc, 87% - BD and 67,2% - RA patients; conventional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (cDMARDs) took 90% of patients with SSc, 84% - BD, 79,6% - RA, 68% - pSS, 40,6% - SLE. Biologic DMARDs took 32% of patients with RA, 17,4% - BD, 7,3% - SSc and 7,2% - SLE. Mental disorders were diagnosed by psychiatrist as a result of screening by the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and in semi-structured interview in accordance with the ICD-10/ DSM-IV. The severity of depression was evaluated by Montgomery- Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and anxiety - by Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Projective psychological methods were used for cognitive impairment detection. Results. Screening of depressive disorders (HADS-D≥8) was positive in 180 (29,4%) patients with RD, including 74 (41%) patients with SLE, 38 (35%) - SSc, 29 (23%) - RA, 23 (20%) - BD and 16 (20%) - pSS; anxiety disorders (HADS-A≥8) - in 272 (44,4%) patients, including 66 (52%) patients with RA, 40 (50%) - pSS, 77 (43%) - SLE, 45 (41%) - SSc and 44 (38%) - BD. In accordance with the ICD-10/ DSMIV depressive disorders have been identified in 389 (63%) patients, including 94 (73%) patients with RA, 71 (64,5%) - SSc, 69 (60%) - BD, 90 (50%) - SLE and 39 (49%) - pSS; anxiety disorders - in 377 (61,5%) patients, including 20 (25%) patients with pSS, 44 (24,5%) - SLE, 29 (23%) - RA, 20 (17%) - BD and 7 (6,4%) - SSc. Conclusion. Anxiety-depressive spectrum disorders are typical for most patients with RA, SLE, SSc, pSS and BD. ADDs diagnosis in RD patients with the use of the HADS did not reveal a significant proportion. To obtain objective data on the frequency and structure of ADDs, psychopathological and clinical psychological diagnosis is necessary.

© 2018 Ima-Press Publishing House. Mental disorders (MDS) of the anxiety-depressive spectrum (ADS) and cognitive impairment (CI) substantially deteriorate the course and efficiency of therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There have been practically no studies on the impact of psychopharmacotherapy (PPT) for MDS on the efficacy of standard disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biological agents (BAs). Objective: to investigate the impact of adequate PPT for MDS of ADS on the efficacy of DMARDs and BAs in patients with RA. Subjects and methods. The investigation included 128 patients (13% men and 87% women) with documented RA in accordance with the 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. The patients' mean age was 47.4}0.9 years; the median duration of RA was 96 [48; 228] months. DAS28 averaged 5.34}0.17. 75.1% of the patients received DMARDs. The diagnosis of MDS was based on the ICD-10 codes, by applying a semi-structured interview and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Changes in the pattern and severity of ADS were evaluated using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Clinical and psychological procedures were used to diagnose CI. At baseline, ADS was detected in 123 (96.1%) patients: major depression in 41 (32.1%), minor depression in 53 (41.4%), and anxiety disorders in 29 (22.6%). CI was diagnosed in 88 (68.7%). PPT was offered to all the patients with MDS; 52 agreed to treatment and 71 refused. The following therapeutic groups were identified according to the performed therapy: 1) DMARDs (n = 39); 2) DMARDs + PPT (n = 43); 3) DMARDs + BAs (n = 32); 4) DMARDs + BAs + PPT (n = 9). The dynamics of MDS and the outcomes of RA were estimated in 112 (91.0%) and in 83 (67.5%) of the 123 patients at one-and five-year follow-ups, respectively. The efficiency of RA therapy was evaluated from the changes in DAS28 and SDAI. Results and discussion. One year later, the patients who had received the complete cycle of PPT and took DMARDs achieved a satisfactory effect twice more frequently (58.1 and 32.3%, respectively; relative risk (RR) = 0.53; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.2-1.39; p = 0.024) and did not respond to therapy 3 times less often (21.0 and 58.1%, respectively; RR = 2.41; 95% CI, 0.87-6.71; p = 0.001) according to the EULAR criteria than those who had refused PPT. The patients with MDS who received DMARDs + PPT during one year were unresponsive to therapy significantly less frequently than those who received DMARDs and BAs without PPT (21 and 44.8%, respectively; RR = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.21-1.7; p = 0.029). After 5 years of follow-up, the probability of no response to RA therapy in MD patients who received only DMARDs was 3.6 times higher than in those who had PPT (66.7% and 10.4%, respectively; RR = 3.58; 95% CI 0.82-15.5; p < 0.001). The patients adequately treated with DMARDs and BAs for MDS according to the DAS28 showed 1.3-fold more frequently good and satisfactory results (100 and 76.2%, respectively; p = 0.14) than those who refused PPT, but these differences were not statistically significant because the DMARD+BA+PPT group was small. Five-year follow-up indicated that DAS28 remission was more common in the patients receiving DMARDs and PPT than in those who had DMARDs and no PPT (34.5 and 8.3%, respectively; RR = 1.79; 95% CI, 0.34-9.24; p = 0.024). DAS28 remission was somewhat more frequently observed among the patients receiving DMARDs, BAs, and PPT than among those taking DMARDs and BAs (33.3 19.0%, respectively; RR = 1.64; 95% CI, 0.28-9.57; p = 0.34), but these differences were insignificant. Remissions according to the 2011 ACR/EULAR criteria were achieved by only the patients having DMARDs and PPT (6.9% and 13.8% after 1 and 5 years, respectively). Conclusion. Adequate treatment of MDS in RA patients results in a significant increase in the efficiency of antirheumatic therapy.

© 2018 Ima-Press Publishing House. All right reserved. Objective: to analyze the levels of CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, and CD3-CD56+ T lymphocytes, FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg), and CD19+ B lymphocytes in patients with early and advanced rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Subjects and methods. The investigation enrolled 45 patients previously untreated with methotrexate (MTX-naive) who had early RA and 15 patients who had advanced RA. Immunofluorescence staining and multicolor flow cytome-try assays were used to estimate the percentage and absolute (abs) counts of CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, CD3-CD16+CD56+, CD19+, Treg (FoxP3+CD25+; surface CD152+; intracellular CD152+; FoxP3+CD127; CD25+CD127-; FoxP3+ICOS+; FoxP3+CD154+; and FoxP3+CD274+. Results and discussion. The patients with early RA were found to have a lower percentage of FoxP3+CD25+ cells and lower percentages and abs counts of FoxP3+ ICOS+ cells, FoxP3+CD154+ cells, and FoxP3+ CD274+ T cells than healthy donors (p0.05 in all cases). The patients with advanced RA were also recorded to have a lower percentage of FoxP3+CD25+ cells and lower percentages and abs contents of FoxP3+ ICOS+ cells, FoxP3+CD154+ cells, and FoxP3+ CD274+ T cells (p0.05 in all cases). The patients with advanced RA compared to those with early RA had a higher content of CD4+ lymphocytes (50.7 [44.4; 53.1] and 45.0 [38.0; 49.2]) and lower percentages of CD25+CD127- T lymphocytes (5.0 [4.0; 5.7] and 6.5 [5.1; 7.9] respectively; p0.05 in all cases). Conclusion. Patients with RA (with the early or advanced stage of the disease) show a decrease in both the counts and functional activity of Treg. The patients with advanced RA compared with those with early RA showed an increase in CD4+ lymphocyte counts and a decrease in CD25+CD127- cell levels, which suggests that there are more pronounced impairments in Treg homeostasis in advanced RA.

© 2018 Ima-Press Publishing House. All right reserved. The response rate to therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rarely exceeds 60%. Mental disorders (MDs) of the anxiety-depressive spectrum (ADS) and cognitive impairment (CI) substantially affect the evaluation of the efficiency of RA therapy. Adequate psychopharmacotherapy is one of the possible approaches to optimizing the treatment of RA. The factors influencing the efficiency of RA therapy with standard disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biological agents (BAs) in combination with adequate psychopharmacotherapy have not been previously identified. Objective: to determine the predictors of response to therapy in patients with RA receiving DMARDs and BAs with or without adequate psychopharmacotherapy for ADS disorders. Subjects and methods. The investigation included 128 patients (13% men and 87% women) with a reliable diagnosis of RA. At baseline, 75.1% of patients received DMARDs; 7.8% - BAs. ADS disorders were detected in 123 (96.1%) patients. Psychopharmacotherapy was offered to all the patients with MDs; 52 patients agreed to treatment and 71 refused. The following therapeutic groups were identified according to the performed therapy: 1) DMARDs (n = 39); 2) DMARDs + psychopharmacotherapy (n = 43); 3) DMARDs + BAs (n = 32); 4) DMARDs + BAs + psychopharmacotherapy (n = 9). The changes of MDs symptoms and the outcomes of RA were assessed in 83 (67.5%) patients at five-year follow-up. The efficiency of RA therapy was evaluated with DAS28 (EULAR criteria). Predictors of response to therapy were determined using linear regression modeling. Results and discussion. At 5 years, 22 (26.5%) and 37 (44.6%) patients were recorded to show good and moderate responses to therapy, respectively; 24 (28.9%) patients were non-respondents. The linear regression model included 14 factors (p<0.001). The high values of DAS28 (β=0.258) at the inclusion; belonging to therapeutic groups 2 (β=0.267), 3 (β=0.235), and 4 (β=0.210), the absence of diabetes mellitus (β=-0.230), and experience in using glucocorticoids (β=-0.230) were associated with a high likelihood of response to therapy; high body mass index (β=-0.200) and long RA duration (β=-0,181), a high level of rheumatoid factor (β=-0.176), a history of myocardial infarction (β=-0.153), schizotypic disorder (β=-0.132), and extra-articular manifestations of RA (β=-0.106), and older age (β=-0.102) were related to a low probability of response. The area under the ROC curve for the model was 0.99 (p<0.001). Conclusion. BA therapy and psychopharmacotherapy, along with younger age, shorter duration and high activity of RA, a low level of rheumatoid factor, lower body mass index, the absence of diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, and extra-articular manifestations of RA in the history, schizotypic disorder, and experience in using glucocorticoids are associated with a greater likelihood of a good and moderate treatment response.

© 2018 Ima-Press Publishing House. All rights reserved. Objective: to assess whether adalimumab (AD) can be gradually discontinued during continuous methotrexate (MTX) use in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA). Subjects and methods. Within the REMARCA (the Russian study of methotrexate and biological agents in early active arthritis) study, the investigators examined 20 patients (17 women and 3 men; median age, 51 [41.5; 56] years) with ERA (disease duration, 10 [5.5; 20] months; DAS28, 5.17 [4.37; 6.51]; 85% of the patients were seropositive for rheumatoid factor and 85% for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies. Results and discussion. All the patients received subcutaneous MTX 25 mg/week. Twelve weeks after beginning therapy with MTX, due to its inefficiency, ADA was added according to the standard scheme. At week 24, the median DAS28 was 3.0 [1.65; 3.73]; 85% of the patients achieved remission or low disease activity. After 3 months of ADA therapy, high or moderate disease activity remained in 3 (15%) patients; median DAS28 was 4.4 [4.3; 6.1]; the drug was discontinued in them due to ineffective therapy. After 12-month follow-up, low DAS28 scores were observed in 5 (29.4%), DAS28 remission was in 12 (70.6%) of the 17 patients who continued ADA treatment; after 24 months, all the 17 patients were noted to have remission. After achieving sustained remission (≥ 6-month duration during ADA therapy), there was a carefully controlled reduction (titration) in the dose of ADA with its complete discontinuation, by maintaining remission at 36-month follow-up; the median DAS28 was 1.6 [1.4; 2.2]. During ADA treatment, one female patient developed pustular psoriasis and therefore the drug was discontinued at 24-month follow-up during the period of sustained remission. Other serious adverse events and tuberculosis cases were not recorded. Conclusion. Thus, the results of the study are indicative of the high clinical efficiency of the therapy. After ADA discontinuation, sustained remission can be maintained in patients with ERA and if they took biological agents early.

© 2018 Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved. Objectives: This article reports 1-year clinical outcomes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving abatacept (ABA) therapy. Materials and methods: Patients (n=91) with high RA activity (DAS28 = 5.1 ± 1.0) and an inadequate response on synthetic DMARDs (mainly methotrexate, 70.3%) and biologics (mainly TNF-α inhibitors, 93%) were included in the study. The majority of patients were middle- Aged (49 ± 13.5) womens, RF (72.5%) and ACPA (77%) positive, with moderate functional impairment - HAQ = 1.4 (0.9-2). ABA were administered IV, 10 mg/kg according to the standard scheme. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the therapy was carried out according to the EULAR / ACR 2011 criteria using SDAI, CDAI, HAQ and the intention to treat approach. Results: ABA led to a significant (p <0.05) decrease activity of RA. Clinical improvement according to EULAR criteria after 6 months of treatment was registered in 70.9%, after 12 months 63%. Almost a third of patients (28.7%) achieved a good response after 3 months of therapy, 39,2% - After 6 months and 39% - After 12 months. The retention rate of ABA therapy after 6 months was 77%, after 12 months - 60%. There were no significant differences between "bio-naive", 1 Bio and ≥2 Bio groups in achieving EULAR response. A good response was achieved in 38%, 38% and 43%, respectively, but the lowest number of non-responders was registered in ≥2 Bio - 38%, 36% and 43%. ABA significantly improved functional status of patients, after 12 months a marked and moderate improvement in the HAQ was achieved in 39% and 21% of patients, respectively. Adverse events (AE) were registered in 22 patients. The most frequent AE were upper respiratory tract infections - 11 (12%) patients. Conclusion: Abatacept was effective in the overall population, and in all subgroups of patients. It has shown significant improvement of clinical and functional status in patients who had an inadequate response to previous therapy. ABA has a good safety profile. AE were registered only in a small number of patients.

Glycosaminoglycan-peptide complex (GPC) (Rumalon®) is an injectable slow-release anti-inflammatory agent (SRIA) that has complex anti-inflammatory and metabolic effects. GPC has been successfully used in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) for several decades. The agent now returns again to Russian clinical practice. Objective: to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of GPC in patients with knee OA, in whom other SRIAs have been previously ineffective. Subjects and methods. A study group consisted of 104 patients (92.3% women) (mean age, 63.2±8.5 years; body mass index (BMI), 28.5±5.4 kg/m2) with severe joint pain (?40 mm on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS)) and/or the need to regularly use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). All the patients received oral SRIAs in the last 6 months and had no improvement. At baseline, VAS pain intensity was 59.4±13.1 mm; the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain was 227.3±90.8; WOMAC stiffness, 97.9±42.1; WOMAC function, 769.2±326.1; total WOMAC scores, 1095.1±426.6. GPC was used by the standard scheme: 25 intramuscular injections every other day per treatment cycle; the results of treatment were assessed at 8 and 12 weeks by VAS and WOMAC pain scores, needs for NSAIDs, satisfaction with treatment (measured on a 1- to 5-pont scale where 1 = no improvement or deterioration and 5 = the best result). Results and discussion. At 8 and 12 weeks, VAS pain scores decreased by 30.1±18.3% and 36.9±16.9%, respectively; the reductions in WOMAC pain scores were 29.8±16.3 and 38.2±23.4%; WOMAC stiffness scores, 29.2±15.4 and 31.6±17.4%; WOMAC function scores, 27.7±14.7 and 30.6±18.4%; and total WOMAC scores, 27.2±13.5 and 33.6±18.0%. The changes in pain intensity and WOMAC scores were statistically significant in both followup periods (p<0.001). The majority of patients rated their treatment result as good or excellent: 70.2% at 8 weeks and 75.9% at 12 weeks. 31.7% of the patients completely stopped taking NSAIDs at 12 weeks. Two patients were noted to have adverse reactions (pain at the injection site and allergic skin reaction) that did not require treatment discontinuation and completely resolved without consequences after completion of a GPC treatment cycle. Conclusion. GPC is an effective and safe agent for the treatment for OA, as well as in patients with severe OA and inefficiency of oral SRIAs.

© 2018 Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved. Objective. To clarify the association between HLA-DRB1 and TNFα (-308G>A) genes polymorphism and joint destruction/further progression during 12 months of the follow-up period (FUP) in patients with early (<6 months), active, predominantly antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACCP) and rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated according to "Treat to target" strategy. Materials and Methods. The study included 85 patients with early RA and duration of symptoms <6 months. All patients were initially assigned to subcutaneous methotrexate (MTX) with rapid dose escalation to 20-25 mg/week. Combination MTX + biological therapy, mainly adalimumab, was used when MTX was ineffective. Joint destruction was assessed by Sharp-Van der Heijde modification scoring method at baseline and after 12 months FUP. Real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR-RT) was used for TNFα gene polymorphism (-308G>A) genotyping. Low resolution PCR-RT with subsequent sequence-based typing of ∗04 were performed to study HLA-DRB1 gene polymorphism. The HLA-DRB1∗01, ∗04:01, ∗04:04, ∗04:05, ∗04:08, ∗10 alleles were categorized as SE+ (Shared Epitope) alleles. Results. As for TNFα gene polymorphism, it was demonstrated that the number of narrowings and total Sharp score values were almost twice as high at baseline in GG genotype carriers as compared to GA genotype carriers (ρ<0,005, and ρ<0,004 respectively). Similar association was found after 12mo FUP. The progression of joint destruction, assessed as the change (Δ) in the number of erosions, joint space narrowings and the total score, was statistically significantly associated with HLA-DRB1∗(SE) genotypes: The carriers of SE (SE+/SE+) double-dose had more advanced progression as compared to (SE+/SE-)/(SE-/SE-) carriers (ρ<0,028, ρ<0,019, ρ<0,035 respectively). Conclusion. Our data suggest that HLA-DRB1 (SE+) gene and TNFα (-308G>A) polymorphisms are associated with the progression of radiographic joint destruction in early, active RA patients managed according to "Treat to target" stratagy.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multifactorial disease, in which the interaction of the genetic component and environmental factors, determines not only the development of the disease, but also its pronounced clinical polymorphism. We assume that the high inflammatory activity of RA may be determined by the genes, the products of which trigger inflammatory processes. Objective: to investigate allele and genotype distribution of gene polymorphic variants in active anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (aCCP)-positive patients with RA from the REMARCA program versus a control group of healthy blood donors. Subjects and methods. A molecular genetic study enrolled 146 aCCP-positive patients from the REMARCA program and a control group of 314 healthy blood donors without autoimmune diseases and their presence in the history, who were matched with the study group for gender and sex. The polymorphic variants of the genes PTPN22 (+1858C>T, rs2476601), TNFAIP3 (rs6920220, rs10499194), CTLA4 (+49A>G, rs231775), TNF? (-308A>G, rs1800629), IL6 (-174G>C, rs1800795), IL6R (+358A>C, rs8192284), IL10 (-592A>C, rs1800872, -892 C>T, rs1800871, -1082 A>G, rs1800896), and MCP1/CCL2 (+2518A>G, rs1024611) were genotyped by a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. Results and discussion. The genotype and allele frequencies of polymorphic variants of the genes CTLA4 (+49A>G), IL-6R (+358A>C), and IL10 (- 592A>C) in the RA group significantly differed from those in the control group. When comparing with the control group, the minor alleles of the CTLA4 and IL10 genes were markers for the risk of aCCP-positive RA with a high inflammatory activity (OR=1.4 [1.1; 1.9], p=0.02 and OR=1.9 [1.4; 2.5]; p=0.0001, respectively). At the same time, the minor C allele of the IL6R gene served as a marker of protection (OR=0.7 [0.5; 0.9]; p=0.03). Logistic regression analysis revealed that there was a statistically significant correlation of the high inflammatory activity indices SDAI, CDAI, and DAS28 with the minor homozygous GG genotype of the CTLA4 gene (OR=2.5 [1.1; 6.0]; p=0.03, OR=2.6 [1.1–6.4], p=0.03 and OR=3.4 [1.3–8.8]; p=0.01, respectively). In addition, the inflammatory activity indices SDAI and CDAI rather than DAS28-ESR were associated with at least one minor A allele (the AA/AC genotypes) of the IL10 gene (OR=2.4 [1.2; 5.1], p=0.02 and OR=2.2 [1.1; 4.7]; p=0.03, respectively). The levels of ESR and CRP were not associated with the examined polymorphisms. Conclusion. The findings may suggest that there is a relationship of the polymorphisms of the genes CTLA4 (+49A>G, rs231775), IL6R (+358A>C, rs8192284), and IL10 (-592A>C, rs1800872) to high inflammatory activity in the group of aCCP-positive patients from the REMARCA study.

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, is characterized by inflammation of joints and cartilage degradation leading to disability, discomfort, severe pain, inflammation, and stiffness of the joint. It has been shown that adenosine, a purine nucleoside composed of adenine attached to ribofuranose, is enzymatically produced by the human synovium. However, the functional significance of adenosine signaling in homeostasis and pathology of synovial joints remains unclear. Adenosine acts through four cell surface receptors, i.e., A1, A2A, A2B, and A3, and here, we have systematically analyzed mice with a deficiency for A3 receptor as well as pharmacological modulations of this receptor with specific analogs. The data show that adenosine receptor signaling plays an essential role in downregulating catabolic mechanisms resulting in prevention of cartilage degeneration. Ablation of A3 resulted in development of OA in aged mice. Mechanistically, A3 signaling inhibited cellular catabolic processes in chondrocytes including downregulation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII), an enzyme that promotes matrix degradation and inflammation, as well as Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). Additionally, selective A3 agonists protected chondrocytes from cell apoptosis caused by pro-inflammatory cytokines or hypo-osmotic stress. These novel data illuminate the protective role of A3, which is mediated via inhibition of intracellular CaMKII kinase and RUNX2 transcription factor, the two major pro-catabolic regulators in articular cartilage.

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, is characterized by inflammation of joints and cartilage degradation leading to disability, discomfort, severe pain, inflammation, and stiffness of the joint. It has been shown that adenosine, a purine nucleoside composed of adenine attached to ribofuranose, is enzymatically produced by the human synovium. However, the functional significance of adenosine signaling in homeostasis and pathology of synovial joints remains unclear. Adenosine acts through four cell surface receptors, i.e., A1, A2A, A2B, and A3, and here, we have systematically analyzed mice with a deficiency for A3 receptor as well as pharmacological modulations of this receptor with specific analogs. The data show that adenosine receptor signaling plays an essential role in downregulating catabolic mechanisms resulting in prevention of cartilage degeneration. Ablation of A3 resulted in development of OA in aged mice. Mechanistically, A3 signaling inhibited cellular catabolic processes in chondrocytes including downregulation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII), an enzyme that promotes matrix degradation and inflammation, as well as Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). Additionally, selective A3 agonists protected chondrocytes from cell apoptosis caused by pro-inflammatory cytokines or hypo-osmotic stress. These novel data illuminate the protective role of A3, which is mediated via inhibition of intracellular CaMKII kinase and RUNX2 transcription factor, the two major pro-catabolic regulators in articular cartilage.