Article
Biology
Petra Simac, Dijana Perkovic, Ivona Bozic, Nada Bilopavlovic, Dinko Martinovic, Josko Bozic
Summary: This study found that serum levels of the secretory protein Adropin were significantly lower in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to healthy controls, and were negatively correlated with total cholesterol, HbA1c, fasting glucose, and insulin resistance index. After adjusting for confounding factors, serum Adropin levels remained significantly associated with fasting glucose and HbA1c levels.
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Dogukan Yilmaz, Katariina Niskanen, Emel Gonullu, Taina Tervahartiala, Ulvi Kahraman Gursoy, Timo Sorsa
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the levels of various proteins in the serum and saliva of patients with periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The results showed higher levels of certain proteins, such as aMMP-8, in saliva of periodontitis patients compared to controls. However, the rheumatologic status did not seem to affect the salivary levels of these proteins. Serum levels of neutrophil proteases were increased in RA patients compared to systemically healthy groups.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana Triguero-Martinez, Emilia Roy-Vallejo, Nuria Montes, Hortensia de la Fuente, Ana Maria Ortiz, Santos Castaneda, Isidoro Gonzalez-Alvaro, Amalia Lamana
Summary: A study found that genetic variants in the LGALS1 gene are associated with Gal1 serum levels, and these genetic variants can explain the differences in Gal1 levels among patients, with higher levels of Gal1 being associated with lower levels of IL-6.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Guang-Zhen Li, Di Shen, Guang-Hong Li, Meng Wei, Li-Jie Zheng, Zeng-Li Liu, Rong-Qi Sun, Shao-Jun Zhou, Zong-Li Zhang, Yan-Chao Gao
Summary: The study found that serum SEMA-3B is significantly decreased in patients with HCC and is negatively associated with prognosis. Patients with low SEMA-3B expression had poor prognosis.
EXPERIMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Lina Wirestam, Klara Martinsson, Alf Kastbom
Summary: Serum serotonin levels are elevated in patients with increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and those with early RA. However, increased serotonin is not predictive of arthritis development or disease course.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ning-Sheng Lai, Hui-Chun Yu, Hsien-Yu Huang Tseng, Chia-Wen Hsu, Hsien-Bin Huang, Ming-Chi Lu
Summary: This study found that serum BDNF levels were significantly elevated in RA patients compared to controls, with lower levels in patients with anxiety or receiving biologics treatment. BDNF had varying effects on different MAPK pathways and regulated the expression of multiple genes, leading to increased expression of specific genes in RA patient T cells. BDNF also increased the expression of inflammatory cytokines in Jurkat cells and secretion of IL-2 and IFN-gamma in activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
Katerina Chatzidionysiou, Alexandra Circiumaru, Bence Rethi, Vijay Joshua, Marianne Engstrom, Aase Hensvold, Erik af Klint, Anca Catrina
Summary: Tocilizumab reduced synovial T-cell counts but not macrophages in rheumatoid arthritis patients. A significant increase in serum IL-6 was observed in responders to tocilizumab.
Article
Immunology
Congqi Hu, Zhao Dai, Jia Xu, Lianyu Zhao, Yanping Xu, Meilin Li, Jiahui Yu, Lu Zhang, Hui Deng, Lijuan Liu, Mingying Zhang, Jiarong Huang, Linping Wu, Guangxing Chen
Summary: This study identified the serum marker ORM1 as a significant differential expression between normal and RA patient samples, positively correlated with disease activity, offering a new perspective for future research on RA.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jianli Qu, Yun Zhao, Meirong Zhao, Pengfei Wu, Jing Xue, Hangbiao Jin
Summary: This study conducted a case-control study in Hangzhou, China, and found associations between paraben exposure, changes in specific immune markers, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risks.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Yiping Zhang, Meiwen Yang, Hongyan Xie, Fenfang Hong, Shulong Yang
Summary: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by autoimmunity and joint destruction. Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been observed in RA patients and can affect various aspects of RA pathophysiology. miRNAs show potential as biomarkers and therapeutic agents for RA management. Strategies to regulate miRNA expression levels and activity offer promising avenues for RA therapy.
Article
Immunology
Weile Chen, Xiangling Zhu, Zhen Xu, Haifeng Jiang, Xuming Wu, Wenming Hong, Xinming Wang, Jiajie Tu, Wei Wei
Summary: This review provides a comprehensive summary of the biological characteristics of CCR2, the related signaling pathways, and recent developments in CCR2-targeting therapeutics in rheumatoid arthritis.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
M. Muaaz Aslam, Peter John, Kang-Hsien Fan, Javaid Mehmood Malik, Eleanor Feingold, F. Yesim Demirci, M. Ilyas Kamboh
Summary: This study investigated the association of FCGR3B copy number variation with rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility and related serological traits. The results showed that FCGR3B copy number < 2 is associated with increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis and anti-CCP seropositivity.
Article
Rheumatology
S. Masneri, S. Piantoni, G. Galoppini, F. Regola, C. Nalli, C. Bazzani, F. Franceschini, P. Airo
Summary: Serum levels of CXCL-13 are elevated in RA patients and decrease after treatment with abatacept. However, we were unable to demonstrate that serum CXCL-13 levels can predict the clinical response to abatacept in RA patients.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Jyothi Mohit, Geetha Ari, Jaideep Mahendra, Prashanthi Prakash, Muskan Bedi, Pavithra H. H. Dave, Anitha Logaranjani, Ambalavanan Namasivayam
Summary: This study aimed to assess and correlate the serum and GCF levels of omentin with the periodontal status of rheumatoid arthritis patients with and without periodontitis. The results showed that the levels of omentin in serum and GCF were lower in rheumatoid arthritis patients with periodontitis, and they were inversely correlated with periodontal parameters.
Article
Immunology
Samantha Rodriguez-Muguruza, Antonio Altuna-Coy, Veronica Arreaza-Gil, Marina Mendieta-Homs, Sonia Castro-Oreiro, Maria Jose Poveda-Elices, Nuria del Castillo-Pinol, Ramon Fontova-Garrofe, Matilde R. Chacon
Summary: This study identified new serum biomarkers for ERA using metabolomics and constructed a biomarker panel composed of glyceric acid, lactic acid, and 3-hydroxisovaleric acid, which shows potential for improving the early clinical diagnosis of RA.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Marc P. Maurits, Fenne Wouters, Ellis Niemantsverdriet, Thomas W. J. Huizinga, Erik B. van den Akker, Saskia Le Cessie, Annette H. M. van Der Helm-van Mil, Rachel Knevel
Summary: This study investigates the differentiation of established genetic predictors for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in healthy controls, patients with clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA), and RA patients. The study finds that genetic predisposition increases across pre-RA participant groups and that HLA shared epitope (HLA-SE) is more prevalent in RA patients. Genetics seem to play different etiological roles in arthritis patients.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Rheumatology
Quirine A. Dumoulin, Marloes Verstappen, Annette H. M. van der Helm-van Mil, Hanna W. van Steenbergen
JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Michele Iudici, Denis Mongin, Elise Siegert, Patricia E. Carreira, Joerg Distler, Joerg Henes, Elisabetta Zanatta, Eric Hachulla, Giacomo De Luca, Carolina de Souza Mueller, Tania Santiago, Jose-Luis Tandaipan, Breno Valdetaro Bianchi, Maria De Santis, Anna-Maria Hoffmann-Vold, Armando Gabrielli, Oliver Distler, Delphine Sophie Courvoisier
Summary: The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of long-term exposure to glucocorticoids (GCs) among SSc patients and identify factors associated with prescribing practices over time and across countries. The results showed that the utilization of GCs is widespread and long-term in SSc patients, with significant variations between countries and within-country. However, there has been a gradual decrease in their utilization.
Article
Rheumatology
Sara Martinez-Ramos, Carlos Rafael-Vidal, Beatriz Malvar-Fernandez, Angela Rodriguez-Trillo, Douglas Veale, Ursula Fearon, Carmen Conde, J. Conde-Aranda, Timothy R. D. J. Radstake, Jose Maria Pego-Reigosa, Kris A. Reedquist, Samuel Garcia
Summary: The expression of class 3 semaphorins is reduced in RA synovial tissue, and TCF-3, EBF-1, and HOXA5 are identified as transcription factors involved in their expression. Silencing TCF-3, EBF-1, and HOXA5 significantly reduces the expression of class 3 semaphorins in RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. HOXA5 expression is decreased in RA synovium and is negatively correlated with clinical disease parameters, and TNF-alpha down-regulates HOXA5 expression. Silencing HOXA5 enhances the migratory and invasive capacities of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and the viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Brianne E. Barker, Megan M. Hanlon, Viviana Marzaioli, Conor M. Smith, Clare C. Cunningham, Jean M. Fletcher, Douglas J. Veale, Ursula Fearon, Mary Canavan
Summary: This study investigates the role of the mTOR pathway in the metabolism and activation of rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASF), and identifies crosstalk with the Hippo-YAP pathway. The results suggest that mTOR mediates the invasive mechanism of RASF through the Hippo-YAP pathway.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Sarah J. H. Khidir, Maaike Boonstra, Sytske Anne Bergstra, Gerry W. M. Boerrigter, Elles M. Voog-van der Harst, Maarten K. Ninaber, Nina Ajmone Marsan, Tom W. J. Huizinga, Annette H. M. van der Helm-van Mil, Jeska K. de Vries-Bouwstra
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the course of maximal mouth opening in systemic sclerosis patients and determine the factors associated with smaller maximal mouth opening over time. The results showed that a majority of patients had stable maximal mouth opening, but those with more severe organ involvement had a smaller maximal mouth opening over time. Smaller maximal mouth opening was also associated with more mouth handicap.
JOURNAL OF SCLERODERMA AND RELATED DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Alen Zabotti, Gabriele De Marco, Laure Gossec, Xenofon Baraliakos, Daniel Aletaha, Annamaria Iagnocco, Paolo Gisondi, Peter Balint, Heidi Bertheussen, Wolf-Henning Boehncke, Nemanja S. Damjanov, Maarten de Wit, Enzo Errichetti, Helena Marzo-Ortega, Mikhail Protopopov, Lluis Puig, Ruben Queiro, Piero Ruscitti, Laura Savage, Georg Schett, Stefan Siebert, Tanja A. Stamm, Paul Studenic, Ilaria Tinazzi, Filip E. Van den Bosch, Annette van der Helm-van Mil, Abdulla Watad, Josef S. Smolen, Dennis G. McGonagle
Summary: This study proposes EULAR guidelines for the early diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) by conducting research on multiple patients. It also establishes standardized operating procedures for clinical practice and trials, providing guidance and consensus in the field of prevention and interception of PsA for psoriasis patients.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Silvia Martins, Natalia Antonio, Tiago Carvalheiro, Paula Laranjeira, Ricardo Rodrigues, Lino Goncalves, Candida Tomaz, Artur Paiva
Summary: The quantity and function of T cells in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) are altered and the impact of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on the inflammatory immune response remains controversial.
BMC CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Doortje Isabelle Krijbolder, Sarah J. H. Khidir, Xanthe M. E. Matthijssen, Robin M. ten Brinck, Jill van Aken, Irene Speyer, Florus J. van der Giesen, Elise van Mulligen, Annette H. M. van der Helm-van Mil
Summary: In patients with clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA), hand function is often impaired before the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and this impairment is associated with subclinical inflammation and tenosynovitis in particular.
Article
Rheumatology
Sarah J. H. Khidir, Bastiaan T. van Dijk, Doortje Krijbolder, Marloes Verstappen, Elise van Mulligen, Annette H. M. van der Helm-van Mil
Summary: This study investigated the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA) and found that hand disabilities occur earlier and more frequently than foot disabilities. Additionally, a single question on hand functioning can predict future development of RA.
Article
Rheumatology
Doortje Krijbolder, Sarah J. H. Khidir, Annette H. M. van der Helm-van Mil
Summary: While awaiting therapies to prevent rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in individuals at-risk, a 1-year methotrexate treatment may lead to sustained reduction in disease burden and subclinical joint inflammation in patients with clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA). Both CSA patients and rheumatologists show a considerable willingness to start a 1-year treatment aimed at long-term improvement of symptoms and functioning, while not preventing RA.
Article
Rheumatology
Alexandre Sepriano, Bastiaan van Dijk, Sofia Ramiro, Annette van der Helm-van Mil, Bernard Combe, Dirkjan van Schaardenburg, Maarten de Wit, Alison Kent, Elsa Mateus, Robert Landewe
Summary: This study evaluated the long-term prognosis across different phenotypes of early arthritis and found that patients with acute phase reactants/autoantibodies had worse radiographic scores, but no significant differences in HAQ and SF36 were found.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sonia Sundanum, Carl Orr, Douglas Veale
Summary: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a systemic inflammatory condition with multiple clinical manifestations. Despite progress in understanding its pathobiology and emergence of targeted therapies, some patients still do not respond well to current treatments. The heterogeneous nature of the disease and varying disease activity make it challenging to devise management strategies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Anna -Maria Hoffmann-Vold, Cathrine Brunborg, Paolo Airo, Lidia P. Ananyeva, Laszlo Czirjak, Serena Guiducci, Eric Hachulla, Mengtao Li, Carina Mihai, Gabriela Riemekasten, Petros P. Sfikakis, Gabriele Valentini, Otylia Kowal-Bielecka, Yannick Allanore, Oliver Distler
Summary: This study aimed to test whether enrichment strategies from clinical trials for progressive systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) affect efficacy, representativeness, and feasibility. The researchers applied the inclusion criteria of major recent SSc-ILD trials to patients with SSc-ILD from the European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) database. The results showed that patient populations that fulfilled different study inclusion criteria significantly differed in various clinical parameters, and the application of enrichment criteria did not have a significant impact on ILD progression.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Dimitrios Tsiapalis, Achilleas Floudas, Tobias Tertel, Verena Boerger, Bernd Giebel, Douglas J. Veale, Ursula Fearon, Lorraine O'Driscoll
Summary: This study investigated the effect of human mesenchymal/stromal stem cells and their extracellular vesicles (EVs) on CD4+ T cells from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The researchers found that EVs from IFN-beta-primed MSCs had a stronger immune-regulatory effect on RA CD4+ T cells compared to MSCs or EVs from naive MSCs. In addition, EVs from IFN-beta-primed MSCs effectively inhibited RA FLS migration and downregulated RA FLS surface markers. These findings suggest that EVs from IFN-beta-primed MSCs could be a potential therapy for RA.
STEM CELLS TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)