Serum leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin-2 (Lect-2) levels in osteoarthritis patients

Purpose: An association between the complimentary system and osteoarthritis is becoming more apparent. Lect-2 protein acts as a regulator of immunological and inflammatory responses. This study aims to determine the levels of leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin-2 (Lect-2) in patients with osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: The study included 38 osteoarthritis patients and 36 healthy controls. ESR, WBC, serum CRP and Lect-2 levels were measured both in patients and controls. Results: ESR and serum CRP levels were significantly higher in patients compared to controls. The mean Lect-2 level in osteoarthritis patients (14.2±4.8 ng/mL) was significantly lower compared to the healthy control group (56.3±20.7 ng/mL). ROC analysis revealed that serum LECT-2 level was a significant parameter in determining patients from healthy controls. Cut off value was ≤24.8 ng/mL with a high AUC (0.990). Conclusion: The significant reduction in Lect-2 levels in osteoarthritis patients suggests its potential role in disease pathogenesis. This finding may contribute to understanding the immunological aspects of osteoarthritis and could potentially serve as a biomarker for disease progression. Further studies with larger patient populations are needed to validate these findings and explore the therapeutic implications of Lect-2 in osteoarthritis management.