Article
Immunology
Adil Ahmed Ali, Khalid Eltahir Khalid, Somaya Elhaj Mohammed, Mohammed Salman Akhtar, Osman Khalafalla Saeed
Summary: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of HLA class II alleles and haplotypes in Sudanese patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The study found that HLA-DRB1*04 and *10 alleles were more common in RA patients, while HLA-DRB1*07 allele was significantly less common. HLA-DQB1*03 allele was strongly associated with RA risk, whereas HLA-DQB1*02 and *06 showed protective effects against RA. Several specific HLA haplotypes were also found to be significantly associated with RA risk or protection.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Weronika Kurowska, Iwona Slowinska, Zbigniew Krogulec, Piotr Syrowka, Wlodzimierz Maslinski
Summary: The presence of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) in the bone marrow of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is associated with increased osteoclast activation and bone resorption. Higher levels of IL-8 in bone marrow containing anti-CCP Abs may play a role in ACPA-induced bone resorption. Levels of TRAP5b, cathepsin K, CTX-I, and IL-8 are elevated in bone marrow compared to peripheral blood, indicating local generation of these molecules.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Vincent Ricchiuti, Kelly Y. Chun, Jane M. Yang, Mary Ann Aure, Luis Gomez, Gary L. Norman, Michael Mahler
Summary: Anti-carbamylated protein (CarP) antibodies can serve as novel markers for the diagnosis and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis. The study found that anti-CarP antibodies can be detected in both anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP), rheumatoid factor (RF), and 14-3-3 eta-positive and negative patients, potentially identifying specific subsets of patients.
Article
Rheumatology
Kristina Sejersen, Tomas Weitoft, Ann Knight, Jorgen Lysholm, Anders Larsson, Johan Ronnelid
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the granulocyte protein calprotectin as an inflammatory biomarker in knee synovitis of RA patients. The study found that serum calprotectin had a stronger correlation with inflammatory markers and disease activity, while synovial fluid (SF) calprotectin was mainly correlated with white blood cell count and polymorphonuclear cell count in the SF. Serum calprotectin showed a particularly strong association with inflammation in ACPA positive RA patients. Measurement of calprotectin in SF did not provide any additional benefit compared to measurement in the circulation in RA patients with knee synovitis.
Article
Rheumatology
Xanthe Marijn Edmee Matthijssen, Fenne Wouters, Navkiran Sidhu, Ellis Niemantsverdriet, Annette van der Helm-van Mil
Summary: MRI-detected tenosynovitis shows high sensitivity for early ACPA-positive and ACPA-negative RA, indicating that involvement of both juxta-articular (tenosynovitis) and intra-articular synovium is characteristic of RA. Sensitivity for RA is significantly higher than other diseases associated with enthesitis, such as spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
Ketian Li, Wenxiu Mo, Lijun Wu, Xunyao Wu, Cainan Luo, Xinyue Xiao, Xinmiao Jia, Huaxia Yang, Yunyun Fei, Hua Chen, Fengchun Zhang, Yongzhe Li, Lidan Zhao, Xuan Zhang
Summary: This study identified nine novel autoantibodies in ACPA-negative RA, with anti-PTX3 and anti-DUSP11 showing the highest sensitivity. The combination of these two autoantibodies significantly increased the diagnostic sensitivity in ACPA-negative RA. The novel biomarkers provide potential diagnostic value for ACPA-negative RA patients.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Miriam Fabiola Ayon-Perez, Jonathan Joseph Topete-Cordoba, Juan Manuel Agraz-Cibrian, Liliana Ortiz-Martinez, Ma De Jesus Duran-Avelar, Alejandro Vazquez-Reyes, Norberto Vibanco-Perez, Jorge Gutierrez-Franco, Jose Francisco Zambrano-Zaragoza
Summary: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation in joints, with the NFkB gene polymorphism rs28362491 showing associations with antibody levels and health assessment index in patients, though no significant risk or protective association was identified.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Ketian Li, Min Wang, Lidan Zhao, Yudong Liu, Xuan Zhang
Summary: This review summarizes the current knowledge about the primary drivers of ACPA(-) RA, focusing on the serological, cellular, and molecular aspects of immune mechanisms. A better understanding of the etiology of ACPA(-) RA will aid in personalized treatment design and improve early treatment and outcomes.
Review
Rheumatology
Francesca Motta, Nicola Bizzaro, Davide Giavarina, Franco Franceschini, Maria Infantino, Boaz Palterer, Gian Domenico Sebastiani, Carlo Selmi
Summary: This study analyzed the role of rheumatoid factor (RF) isotypes in the diagnosis and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The results showed that testing all RF isotypes with latex test or nephelometry provides the highest sensitivity, while determination of IgA isotype provides the highest specificity and positive likelihood ratio. However, RF isotypes do not provide relevant prognostic information due to limited and conflicting data.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Diana Marcela Castillo, Gloria Ines Lafaurie, Consuelo Romero-Sanchez, Nathaly Andrea Delgadillo, Yormaris Castillo, Wilson Bautista-Molano, Cesar Pacheco-Tena, Juan Manuel Bello-Gualtero, Philippe Chalem-Choueka, Jaime E. Castellanos
Summary: This study found that antibodies against arginine-gingipain A (RgpA) and the double positivity of RgpA and peptidyl arginine deiminase (PPAD) may serve as biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), improving its diagnosis.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Xanthe M. E. Matthijssen, Ellis Niemantsverdriet, Saskia Le Cessie, Annette H. M. Van der Helm-van Mil
Summary: This study found that the decrease of inflammatory features usually occurs simultaneously in patients with RA and undifferentiated arthritis, including in ACPA subgroups, but synovitis decrease typically precedes tenosynovitis decrease. Additionally, in ACPA-positive patients, synovitis decrease occurs before osteitis decrease.
Article
Rheumatology
Dina Anas Abdel Hai Hussin, Reham M. Shaat, Shereen Salah Metwally, Manal Awad
Summary: The study results indicate that serum levels of 14-3-3 eta are significantly elevated in rheumatoid arthritis patients, serving as a valuable marker for diagnosis. Additionally, serum 14-3-3 eta may also have prognostic value in RA patients.
CLINICAL RHEUMATOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Yong Jiang, Shuxin Zhong, Shenghua He, Juanling Weng, Lijin Liu, Yufeng Ye, Hanwei Chen
Summary: Given the lack of overt clinical manifestations, early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have always been challenging. Recent studies have focused on using non-coding RNA (ncRNA) as biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of RA. This review provides an overview of the recent advances in mRNA-ncRNA as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for RA from the biofluid to the tissue level.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Laura C. Cappelli, Clifton O. Bingham, Patrick M. Forde, Valsamo Anagnostou, Julie Brahmer, Evan J. Lipson, Jennifer Mammen, Megan Schollenberger, Ami A. Shah, Erika Darrah
Summary: Anti-RA33 antibodies are present in a subset of patients with ICI-induced IA, but absent in other patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Anti-RA33 antibodies may be a biomarker for developing inflammatory arthritis.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sameh S. Gad, Ahmed M. Fayez, Mahmoud Abdelaziz, Doaa Abou El-ezz
Summary: The study explored the potential beneficial effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on rheumatoid arthritis. Results showed that the nanoparticles attenuated inflammatory mediators and autoimmunity in rats. The findings emphasize the potential for using nanoparticles in combination with existing treatments for improved control of RA.
NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERGS ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
M. Leu Agelii, M. L. E. Andersson, B. L. Jones, C. Sjowall, A. Kastbom, I Hafstrom, K. Forslind, I Gjertsson
Summary: The study proposes a new approach to identify different disease progression paths in rheumatoid arthritis patients through multi-trajectory modeling, which could be helpful in finding potential predictive biomarkers.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
A. Mathioudaki, J. Nordin, A. Kastbom, P. Soderkvist, P. Eriksson, J. Cedergren, K. Lindblad-Toh, J. R. S. Meadows
Summary: This study aimed to characterize known ankylosing spondylitis (AS) susceptibility variants in a homogeneous Swedish data set and successfully replicated major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and non-MHC loci associated with AS in the Swedish population. The study showed a different replication pattern compared to discovery data sets, possibly due to differences in population demographics.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Rheumatology
Klara Martinsson, Kerstin Durholz, Georg Schett, Mario M. Zaiss, Alf Kastbom
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Rebecca Heijke, Mathilda Bjork, Ingrid Thyberg, Alf Kastbom, Laura McDonald, Christopher Sjowall
Summary: The study investigated the relationship between patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) scores and organ damage in patients with recent-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The results showed that RA patients had worse PROMs than SLE patients, which improved by month 6 after diagnosis, while SLE patients' PROMs remained stable. The incidence of organ damage in SLE was 13.6 per 100 patient-years.
CLINICAL RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Andrei Barbulescu, Johan Askling, Katerina Chatzidionysiou, Helena Forsblad-d'Elia, Alf Kastbom, Ulf Lindstrom, Carl Turesson, Thomas Frisell
Summary: This study compared the use and effectiveness of baricitinib, tofacitinib, and biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) in Swedish RA patients. The results showed that baricitinib had higher proportions of good EULAR response, HAQ-DI improvement, and CDAI remission compared to TNFi. Baricitinib also had better treatment responses compared to non-TNFi bDMARDs, while tofacitinib had similar responses to bDMARDs but slightly lower than baricitinib.
Article
Rheumatology
Klara Martinsson, Lovisa Lyttbacka Kling, Karin Roos-Ljungberg, Irina Griazeva, Marina Samoylovich, Stephane Paul, Johan Ronnelid, Tomas Weitoft, Jonas Wettero, Alf Kastbom
Summary: This study investigates the levels and formation of secretory Ig, including ACPAs, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The results show that secretory Ig levels are elevated before and during RA onset. In the presence of free SC, secretory Ig may form outside the mucosa, and SC-containing ACPAs are enriched in RA joints.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Changrong Ge, Dongmei Tong, Erik Loennblom, Bibo Liang, Weiwei Cai, Cecilia Fahlquist-Hagert, Taotao Li, Alf Kastbom, Inger Gjertsson, Doreen Dobritzsch, Rikard Holmdahl
Summary: This study investigated the structure, function, and relevance of anti-COMP antibodies. The findings showed that anti-COMP antibodies induced arthritis in mice and their binding to COMP could be modulated by calcium ions. Serum levels of antibodies specific to the COMP P6 epitope and its citrullinated variants were significantly elevated in RA patients and correlated with higher disease activity.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Saedis Saevarsdottir, Lilja Stefansdottir, Patrick Sulem, Gudmar Thorleifsson, Egil Ferkingstad, Gudrun Rutsdottir, Bente Glintborg, Helga Westerlind, Gerdur Grondal, Isabella C. Loft, Signe Bek Sorensen, Benedicte A. Lie, Mikael Brink, Lisbeth Arlestig, Asgeir Orn Arnthorsson, Eva Baecklund, Karina Banasik, Steffen Bank, Lena Bjorkman, Torkell Ellingsen, Christian Erikstrup, Oleksandr Frei, Inger Gjertsson, Daniel F. Gudbjartsson, Sigurjon A. Gudjonsson, Gisli H. Halldorsson, Oliver Hendricks, Jan Hillert, Estrid Hogdall, Soren Jacobsen, Dorte Vendelbo Jensen, Helgi Jonsson, Alf Kastbom, Ingrid Kockum, Salome Kristensen, Helga Kristjansdottir, Margit H. Larsen, Asta Linauskas, Ellen-Margrethe Hauge, Anne G. Loft, Bjorn R. Ludviksson, Sigrun H. Lund, Thorsteinn Markusson, Gisli Masson, Pall Melsted, Kristjan H. S. Moore, Heidi Munk, Kaspar R. Nielsen, Gudmundur L. Norddahl, Asmundur Oddsson, Thorunn A. Olafsdottir, Pall Olason, Tomas Olsson, Sisse Rye Ostrowski, Kim Horslev-Petersen, Solvi Rognvaldsson, Helga Sanner, Gilad N. Silberberg, Hreinn Stefansson, Erik Sorensen, Inge J. Sorensen, Carl Turesson, Thomas Bergman, Lars Alfredsson, Tore K. Kvien, Soren Brunak, Kristjan Steinsson, Vibeke Andersen, Ole A. Andreassen, Solbritt Rantapaa-Dahlqvist, Merete Lund Hetland, Lars Klareskog, Johan Askling, Leonid Padyukov, Ole Bv Pedersen, Unnur Thorsteinsdottir, Ingileif Jonsdottir, Kari Stefansson
Summary: This study identified causal genes for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its subsets through a genome-wide association study. Most of these genes encode proteins related to interferon and IL-12/23 signaling, particularly in the JAK/STAT pathway. Variants in some of these genes were found to increase or decrease the risk of seropositive RA.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Lieve Van Hoovels, Bert Vander Cruyssen, Daniela Sieghart, Carolien Bonroy, Eszter Nagy, Rille Pullerits, Sasa Cucnik, Charlotte Dahle, Ingmar Heijnen, Luca Bernasconi, Farid Benkhadra, Laura Bogaert, Stefanie Van den Bremt, Ann Van Liedekerke, Geert Vanheule, Johan Robbrecht, Lucy Studholme, Claudine Wirth, Ruediger Mueller, Diego Kyburz, Christopher Sjowall, Alf Kastbom, Rok Jese, Boja Jovancevic, Emese Kiss, Peggy Jacques, Daniel Aletaha, Guenter Steiner, Patrick Verschueren, Xavier Bossuyt
Summary: This study aimed to refine the interpretation of RF and ACPA across commercial assays. By determining thresholds for antibody levels and assigning test result interval-specific LRs, clinical interpretation can be aligned for all RF and ACPA assays.
Meeting Abstract
Rheumatology
E. Lonnblom, M. Leu Agelii, O. Sareila, I. Hafstrom, M. Andersson, L. Cheng, G. Bergstrom, A. K. H. Ekwall, A. Rudin, A. Kastbom, C. Sjowall, B. Xu, L. T. H. Jacobsson, J. Viljanen, J. Kihlberg, I. Gjertsson, R. Holmdahl
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Lieve Van Hoovels, Lucy Studholme, Bert Vander Cruyssen, Daniela Sieghart, Carolien Bonroy, Eszter Nagy, Rille Pullerits, Sasa Cucnik, Charlotte Dahle, Ingmar Heijnen, Luca Bernasconi, Farid Benkhadra, Laura Bogaert, Stefanie Van den Bremt, Ann Van Liedekerke, Geert Vanheule, Johan Robbrecht, Claudine Wirth, Ruediger Mueller, Diego Kyburz, Christopher Sjowall, Alf Kastbom, Rok Jese, Boja Jovancevic, Emese Kiss, Peggy Jacques, Daniel Aletaha, Guenter Steiner, Patrick Verschueren, Xavier Bossuyt
Summary: Commercial assays measuring antibodies to citrullinated protein/peptide (ACPA) show poor quantitative agreement, as they have not adopted an international standard. The candidate NIBSC 18/204 standard improved the standardization of most ACPA assays.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Lieve Van Hoovels, Bert Vander Cruyssen, Daniela Sieghart, Carolien Bonroy, Eszter Nagy, Rille Pullerits, Sasa Cucnik, Charlotte Dahle, Ingmar Heijnen, Luca Bernasconi, Farid Benkhadra, Laura Bogaert, Stefanie Van den Bremt, Ann Van Liedekerke, Geert Vanheule, Johan Robbrecht, Lucy Studholme, Claudine Wirth, Ruediger Mueller, Diego Kyburz, Christopher Sjowall, Alf Kastbom, Rok Jese, Boja Jovancevic, Emese Kiss, Peggy Jacques, Daniel Aletaha, Guenter Steiner, Patrick Verschueren, Xavier Bossuyt
Summary: Rheumatoid factor (RF) is an important marker for the diagnosis and classification of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but IgA RF has lower sensitivity compared to IgM RF. Combining IgA RF with IgM RF and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) does not improve the sensitivity of RA classification, but it can increase specificity.
CLINICAL CHEMISTRY AND LABORATORY MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Shan Cao, Yixuan Li, Rui Song, Xianyi Meng, Maximilian Fuchs, Chunguang Liang, Katerina Kachler, Xinyu Meng, Jinming Wen, Ursula Schloetzer-Schrehardt, Verena Taudte, Arne Gessner, Meik Kunz, Ulrike Schleicher, Mario M. Zaiss, Alf Kastbom, Xiaoxiang Chen, Georg Schett, Aline Bozec
Summary: The study revealed that L-arginine can ameliorate arthritis and bone erosion by altering metabolic pathways in osteoclasts and perturbing purine metabolism.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Mike Aoun, Ana Coelho, Alexander Kramer, Amit Saxena, Pierre Sabatier, Christian Michel Beusch, Erik Lonnblom, Manman Geng, Nhu-Nguyen Do, Zhongwei Xu, Jingdian Zhang, Yibo He, Laura Romero Castillo, Hassan Abolhassani, Bingze Xu, Johan Viljanen, Joanna Rorbach, Gonzalo Fernandez Lahore, Inger Gjertsson, Alf Kastbom, Christopher Sjowall, Jan Kihlberg, Roman A. Zubarev, Harald Burkhardt, Rikard Holmdahl
Summary: The study reveals that autoreactive antigen-specific naive B cells tolerize infiltrating T cells against self-antigens to impede the development of tissue-specific autoimmune inflammation.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Correction
Immunology
Mike Aoun, Ana Coelho, Alexander Kramer, Amit Saxena, Pierre Sabatier, Christian Michel Beusch, Erik Lonnblom, Manman Geng, Nhu-Nguyen Do, Zhongwei Xu, Jingdian Zhang, Yibo He, Laura Romero Castillo, Hassan Abolhassani, Bingze Xu, Johan Viljanen, Joanna Rorbach, Gonzalo Fernandez Lahore, Inger Gjertsson, Alf Kastbom, Christopher Sjowall, Jan Kihlberg, Roman A. Zubarev, Harald Burkhardt, Rikard Holmdahl
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2023)