ABSTRACT: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous disease. We used cDNA microarray technology to subclassify RA patients and disclose disease pathways in rheumatoid synovium. Hierarchical clustering of gene expression data identified two main groups of tissues (RA-I and RA-II). A total of 121 genes were significantly higher expressed in the RA-I tissues, whereas 39 genes were overexpressed in the RA-II tissues. Among the 121 genes overexpressed in RA-I tissues, a relative majority of nine genes are located on chromosome 6p21.3. An interpretation of biological processes that take place revealed that the gene expression profile in RA-I tissues is indicative for an adaptive immune response. The RA-II group showed expression of genes suggestive for fibroblast dedifferentiation. Within the RA-I group, two subgroups could be distinguished; the RA-Ia group showed predominantly immune-related gene activity, while the RA-Ib group showed an additional higher activity of genes indicative for the classical pathway of complement activation. All tissues except the RA-Ia subgroup showed elevated expression of genes involved in tissue remodeling. These results confirm the heterogeneous nature of RA and suggest the existence of distinct pathogenic mechanisms that contribute to RA. The differences in expression profiles provide opportunities to stratify patients based on molecular criteria. An all pairs experiment design type is where all labeled extracts are compared to every other labeled extract. Keywords: all_pairs
Project description:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous disease. We used cDNA microarray technology to subclassify RA patients and disclose disease pathways in rheumatoid synovium. Hierarchical clustering of gene expression data identified two main groups of tissues (RA-I and RA-II). A total of 121 genes were significantly higher expressed in the RA-I tissues, whereas 39 genes were overexpressed in the RA-II tissues. Among the 121 genes overexpressed in RA-I tissues, a relative majority of nine genes are located on chromosome 6p21.3. An interpretation of biological processes that take place revealed that the gene expression profile in RA-I tissues is indicative for an adaptive immune response. The RA-II group showed expression of genes suggestive for fibroblast dedifferentiation. Within the RA-I group, two subgroups could be distinguished; the RA-Ia group showed predominantly immune-related gene activity, while the RA-Ib group showed an additional higher activity of genes indicative for the classical pathway of complement activation. All tissues except the RA-Ia subgroup showed elevated expression of genes involved in tissue remodeling. These results confirm the heterogeneous nature of RA and suggest the existence of distinct pathogenic mechanisms that contribute to RA. The differences in expression profiles provide opportunities to stratify patients based on molecular criteria.
Project description:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous disease. We used cDNA microarray technology to subclassify RA patients and disclose disease pathways in rheumatoid synovium. Hierarchical clustering of gene expression data identified two main groups of tissues (RA-I and RA-II). A total of 121 genes were significantly higher expressed in the RA-I tissues, whereas 39 genes were overexpressed in the RA-II tissues. Among the 121 genes overexpressed in RA-I tissues, a relative majority of nine genes are located on chromosome 6p21.3. An interpretation of biological processes that take place revealed that the gene expression profile in RA-I tissues is indicative for an adaptive immune response. The RA-II group showed expression of genes suggestive for fibroblast dedifferentiation. Within the RA-I group, two subgroups could be distinguished; the RA-Ia group showed predominantly immune-related gene activity, while the RA-Ib group showed an additional higher activity of genes indicative for the classical pathway of complement activation. All tissues except the RA-Ia subgroup showed elevated expression of genes involved in tissue remodeling. These results confirm the heterogeneous nature of RA and suggest the existence of distinct pathogenic mechanisms that contribute to RA. The differences in expression profiles provide opportunities to stratify patients based on molecular criteria. An all pairs experiment design type is where all labeled extracts are compared to every other labeled extract. Using regression correlation
Project description:Mast cells are phenotypically and functionally highly heterogeneous, and their state is possibly controlled by their local microenvironment. Therefore, concrete analyses are needed to understand whether mast cells act as powerful motivators or dispensable bystanders in specific diseases. Here, we evaluated the correlation between synovial mast cells and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease severity, and the efficacy of therapeutic interventions against mast cells. We showed that degranulation of mast cells in inflammatory synovial tissues of RA patients was induced via MAS-related G protein-coupled receptor X2 (MRGPRX2), and the expression of MHC class II (MHC II) and costimulatory molecules on mast cells were upregulated. These unique signaling response led to mast cell activation and promoted T cell responses, resulting in the progression of RA. Collagen-induced arthritis mouse models treated with a combination of anti-IL-17A and cromolyn sodium, a mast cell membrane stabilizer, showed significantly reduced clinical severity and decreased bone erosion. The findings of the present study suggest that synovial microenvironment-influenced mast cells contribute to RA and may provide a novel mast cell-targeting therapy for RA.
Project description:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory joint disease of unknown etiology and pronounced inter-patient heterogeneity. To characterize RA at the molecular level and to uncover key pathomechanisms, we performed whole-genome gene expression analyses. Synovial tissues from rheumatoid arthritis patients were compared to those from osteoarthritis patients and to normal donors. Keywords: disease state analysis
Project description:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints involved with genetic and epigenetic aberrant. Recent evidence found more and more importance of the epigenetic contribution, especially the DNA methylation, to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. To understand the extent and nature of dysregulated DNA methylation in rheumatoid arthritis T cells, we performed a genome-wide DNA methylation study in CD4+ T cells in 12 rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to 12 matched normal healthy controls. [Methods and Result] Cytosine methylation status was quantified with Illumina methylation 450K microarray (HM450K, 485512 CpG sites). We identified 810 hypomethylated and 392 hypermethylated CG sites in RA CD4+ T cells compared to normal controls, representing 383 and 785 genes hypermethylated and hypomethylated in RA patients (P<3.4*10-7). Cluster analysis based on significantly differential methylated loci showed distinct separation between RA and normal controls. Gene ontology analysis showed alternative splicing (P=1.2*10-7, FDR) and phosphoprotein (1.7*10-2, FDR) were significantly aberrant in RA patients, indicating the abnormal of transcript alternative splicing and protein modification mediated by DNA methylation might play important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. What’s more, the result showed human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region was frequently hypomethylated in RA patients, including HLA-DRB6, HLA-DQA1 and HLA-E, however, HLA-DQB1 showed different methylation profiles with significant hypermethylation in CpG island region and hypomethylation in CpG shelf region. Outsite of the MHC region, the most hypermethylated genes in RA included HDAC4, NXN, TBCD and TMEM61 while the most significant hypomethylated genes included ITIH3, TCN2, PRDM16, SLC1A5 and GALNT9. [Conclusion] Genome-wide DNA methylation patterns revealed significant DNA methylation change in CD4+ T cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 12 rheumatoid arthritis and 12 matched health individuals
Project description:To explore the downstream target of MSMP, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to display gene expression profiles in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) from 3 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) between control siRNA (siC) group and siMSMP-2 group (with the highest interference efficiency for MSMP). The heatmap and volcano diagram showed a total of 216 differentially expressed genes with 77 upregulated genes and 139 downregulated genes (Fold change≥1.5,p<0.05)
Project description:Inflammation-mediated oncogenesis has been implicated in a variety of cancer types. Rheumatoid synovial tissues can be viewed as a tumor-like mass, consisting of hyperplastic fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). FLSs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have pro-migratory and invasive characteristics, which may be caused by chronic exposure to genotoxic stimuli, including hypoxia and growth factors. We tested whether a transformed phenotype of RA-FLSs is associated with placental growth factor (PlGF), a representative angiogenic growth factor induced by hypoxia. Here, we identified PlGF-1 and PlGF-2 as the major PlGF isoforms in RA-FLSs. Global gene expression profiling revealed that cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and cell migration were mainly represented by differentially expressed genes in RA-FLSs transfected with siRNA for PlGF. Indeed, PlGF-deficient RA-FLSs showed a decrease in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, but an increase in apoptotic death in vitro. PlGF gene overexpression resulted in the opposite effects. Moreover, exogeneous PlGF-1 and PlGF-2 increased survival, migration, and invasiveness of RA-FLSs by binding their receptors, Flt-1 and NP-1, up-regulating the expression of anti-apoptotic molecules, pErk and Bcl2. Knock-down of PlGF transcripts reduced RA-FLS proliferation in a xeno-transplantation model. Collectively, in addition to their role for neovascularization, PlGF-1 and -2 promote proliferation, survival, migration, and invasion of RA-FLSs in an autocrine and paracrine manner. These results demonstrated how primary cells of mesenchymal origin acquired an aggressive and transformed phenotype. PlGF and its receptors thus offer new targets for anti-FLS therapy. The FLSs were prepared from the synovial tissues of RA patients and incubated in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS. Cells were cultured in RPMI supplemented with 10% FBS. There are 4 FLS samples treated with PlGF siRNA, and 4 FLS samples treated with control siRNA.
Project description:This study was to investigate the lncRNA expression profiles in synovium tissues of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients by RNA sequencing, and to evaluate the clinical values of dysregulated lncRNAs in RA diagnosis and monitoring.
Project description:The transcriptome of PBMC from rheumatoid arthritis patient hasn't been compenhensively profiled, and heterogeneous characteristics of blood monocytes in RA patients are much unknown. We performed the single cell transcriptomic analysis of PBMC from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient, and monocyte populations were extracted during the analysis. CD127 expression associated expression pattern of inflammatory genes was identified in RA patient's blood monocytes.
Project description:Synovial biopsies were obtained from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium and from subjects without a joint disease to find gene upregulated during RA. The promoters of genes upregulated during RA compared to HC can be used to obtain disease-regulated gene therapy.