Project description:The endothelial glycocalyx (EG) is essential for proper function of the endothelium and for vascular integrity, but its role in premature atherogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not been studied yet. EG impairment can play a role in pathogenesis of vascular disease, and one of its characteristics is shedding of syndecan-1 from endothelial cells. Syndecan-1 shedding is mediated by matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and counteracted by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1. Cardiovascular disease risk in RA is reversible by disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), but the exact modes of action are still unclear. Therefore, we examined effects of DMARDs on syndecan-1, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in RA patients, and searched for associations between these parameters and inflammatory activity. From the observational PSARA study, we examined 39 patients starting with methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy (in MTX naïve patients, n = 19) or tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) in combination with MTX (in MTX non-responders, n = 20) due to active RA. Serum syndecan-1, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were measured at baseline and after six weeks of treatment. Serum syndecan-1 (p = 0.008) and TIMP-1 (p<0.001) levels decreased after six weeks of anti-rheumatic treatment. Levels of MMP-9 also decreased, but the difference was not statistically significant. The improvement in syndecan-1 levels were independent of changes in inflammatory activity. There was no significant difference in changes in syndecan-1 levels from baseline to 6 weeks between the MTX and TNFi groups, however the change was significant within the MTX group. Six weeks of antirheumatic treatment was associated with reduction in serum levels of syndecan-1, which might reflect reduced syndecan-1 shedding from EG. Thus, it is possible that EG-preserving properties of DMARDs might contribute to their cardioprotective effects. These effects may be at least partly independent of their anti-inflammatory actions. Our findings do not support the notion that syndecan-1 shedding in RA is mediated mainly by increased MMP-9 or decreased TIMP-9 serum concentration.

Project description:BackgroundThe complement system plays an important role in pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and might be involved in accelerated atherogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The role of complement activation in response to treatment, and in development of premature CVD in RA, is limited. Therefore, we examined the effects of methotrexate (MTX) and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) on complement activation using soluble terminal complement complex (TCC) levels in RA; and assessed associations between TCC and inflammatory and cardiovascular biomarkers.MethodsWe assessed 64 RA patients starting with MTX monotherapy (n = 34) or TNFi with or without MTX co-medication (TNFi±MTX, n = 30). ELISA was used to measure TCC in EDTA plasma. The patients were examined at baseline, after 6 weeks and 6 months of treatment.ResultsMedian TCC was 1.10 CAU/mL, and 57 (89%) patients had TCC above the estimated upper reference limit (<0.70). Compared to baseline, TCC levels were significantly lower at 6-week visit (0.85 CAU/mL, p<0.0001), without significant differences between the two treatment regimens. Notably, sustained reduction in TCC was only achieved after 6 months on TNFi±MTX (0.80 CAU/mL, p = 0.006). Reductions in TCC after treatment were related to decreased C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and interleukin 6, and increased levels of total, high and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Similarly, baseline TCC was significantly related to baseline CRP, ESR and interleukin 6. Patients with endothelial dysfunction had higher baseline TCC than those without (median 1.4 versus 1.0 CAU/mL, p = 0.023).ConclusionsPatients with active RA had elevated TCC, indicating increased complement activation. TCC decreased with antirheumatic treatment already after 6 weeks. However, only treatment with TNFi±MTX led to sustained reduction in TCC during the 6-month follow-up period. RA patients with endothelial dysfunction had higher baseline TCC compared to those without, possibly reflecting involvement of complement in the atherosclerotic process in RA.

Project description:In 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis the baseline expression (t=0) of type I IFN-regulated genes was determined in peripheral blood cells (PAXgene) using cDNA-microarrays and compared to levels one month after (t=1) anti-TNF treatment (infliximab). Therefore, we used 43K cDNA microarrays from the Stanford Functional Genomics Facility (http://microarray.org/sfgf/) printed on aminosilane-coated slides containing ~20.000 unique genes. Only one batch of arrays was used for all experiments. First DNA spots were UV-cross linked to the slide using 150-300 mJoules. Sample preparation and microarray hybridization were performed as described previously (1,2). Data storage and filtering was performed using the Stanford Microarray Database (http://genome-www5.stanford.edu//) as described previously. 1. van der Pouw Kraan TC, Wijbrandts CA, van Baarsen LG, Voskuyl AE, Rustenburg F, Baggen JM et al.: Rheumatoid arthritis subtypes identified by genomic profiling of peripheral blood cells: assignment of a type I interferon signature in a subpopulation of patients. Ann Rheum Dis 2007, 66: 1008-1014. 2. van der Pouw Kraan TC, van Baarsen LG, Rustenburg F, Baltus B, Fero M, Verweij CL: Gene expression profiling in rheumatology. Methods Mol Med 2007, 136: 305-327. Abbreviations: - Bnrs are the different patients analyzed - PAX or Paxgene indicates the total RNA was isolated from peripheral blood obtained in PAXgene tubes - CRS: common reference sample: We made a common reference that consisted of a mixture of mRNAs isolated from 11 different cell lines (Perou CM, Jeffrey SS, van de RM et al. Distinctive gene expression patterns in human mammary epithelial cells and breast cancers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999; 96:9212-9217) supplemented with RNA from rheumatoid synovial tissue, fibroblasts, and activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). - PMT: photomultiplier tube: the sensitivity/intensity of the scanner can be adjusted to prevent spot saturation. Compound Based Treatment: anti-TNF (infliximab) reference_design

Project description:IntroductionWe hypothesized that serum levels of C-X-C motif chemokine 13 (CXCL13), a B-cell chemokine, would delineate a subset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients characterized by increased humoral immunity.MethodsSerum from patients with established RA (the Dartmouth RA Cohort) was analyzed for CXCL13, rheumatoid factor (RF) levels, anticitrullinated peptide/protein antibody (ACPA) and total immunoglobulin G (IgG); other parameters were obtained by chart review. A confirmatory analysis was performed using samples from the Sherbrooke Early Undifferentiated PolyArthritis (EUPA) Cohort. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test, a t-test and Spearman's correlation analysis were utilized to determine relationships between variables.ResultsIn both the Dartmouth and Sherbrooke cohorts, CXCL13 levels were selectively increased in seropositive relative to seronegative RA patients (P = 0.0002 and P < 0.0001 for the respective cohorts), with a strong correlation to both immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgA RF levels (P < 0.0001). There was a weaker relationship to ACPA titers (P = 0.03 and P = 0.006, respectively) and total IgG (P = 0.02 and P = 0.14, respectively). No relationship was seen with regard to age, sex, shared epitope status or inclusion high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in either cohort or regarding the presence of baseline erosions in the Sherbrooke Cohort, whereas a modest relationship with Disease Activity Score in 28 joints CRP (DAS28-CRP) was seen in the Dartmouth cohort but not the Sherbrooke cohort.ConclusionUsing both established and early RA cohorts, marked elevations of serum CXCL13 levels resided nearly completely within the seropositive population. CXCL13 levels exhibited a strong relationship with RF, whereas the association with clinical parameters (age, sex, DAS28-CRP and erosions) or other serologic markers (ACPA and IgG) was either much weaker or absent. Elevated serum CXCL13 levels may identify a subset of seropositive RA patients whose disease is shaped by or responsive to RF production.

Project description:In 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis the baseline expression (t=0) of type I IFN-regulated genes was determined in peripheral blood cells (PAXgene) using cDNA-microarrays and compared to levels one month after (t=1) anti-TNF treatment (infliximab). Therefore, we used 43K cDNA microarrays from the Stanford Functional Genomics Facility (http://microarray.org/sfgf/) printed on aminosilane-coated slides containing ~20.000 unique genes. Only one batch of arrays was used for all experiments. First DNA spots were UV-cross linked to the slide using 150-300 mJoules. Sample preparation and microarray hybridization were performed as described previously (1,2). Data storage and filtering was performed using the Stanford Microarray Database (http://genome-www5.stanford.edu//) as described previously. 1. van der Pouw Kraan TC, Wijbrandts CA, van Baarsen LG, Voskuyl AE, Rustenburg F, Baggen JM et al.: Rheumatoid arthritis subtypes identified by genomic profiling of peripheral blood cells: assignment of a type I interferon signature in a subpopulation of patients. Ann Rheum Dis 2007, 66: 1008-1014. 2. van der Pouw Kraan TC, van Baarsen LG, Rustenburg F, Baltus B, Fero M, Verweij CL: Gene expression profiling in rheumatology. Methods Mol Med 2007, 136: 305-327. Abbreviations: - Bnrs are the different patients analyzed - PAX or Paxgene indicates the total RNA was isolated from peripheral blood obtained in PAXgene tubes - CRS: common reference sample: We made a common reference that consisted of a mixture of mRNAs isolated from 11 different cell lines (Perou CM, Jeffrey SS, van de RM et al. Distinctive gene expression patterns in human mammary epithelial cells and breast cancers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999; 96:9212-9217) supplemented with RNA from rheumatoid synovial tissue, fibroblasts, and activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). - PMT: photomultiplier tube: the sensitivity/intensity of the scanner can be adjusted to prevent spot saturation. Compound Based Treatment: anti-TNF (infliximab)

Dataset Information

The activation fragment of PAR2 is elevated in serum from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and reduced in response to anti-IL6R treatment.

Publications

The activation fragment of PAR2 is elevated in serum from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and reduced in response to anti-IL6R treatment.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets