| Autor: |
Pascual-García S; Department of Biotechnology, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain., Martínez-Peinado P; Department of Biotechnology, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain., López-Jaén AB; Department of Biotechnology, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain., Navarro-Blasco FJ; Department of Biotechnology, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain.; Rheumatology Unit, University General Hospital of Elche, 03203 Elche, Spain., Montoyo-Pujol YG; Medical Oncology Department, Dr. Balmis University General Hospital, Pintor Baeza 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain.; Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Pintor Baeza 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain., Roche E; Biochemistry and Cell Therapy Unit, Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain., Peiró G; Department of Biotechnology, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain.; Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Pintor Baeza 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain.; Pathology Department, Dr. Balmis University General Hospital, Pintor Baeza 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain., Sempere-Ortells JM; Department of Biotechnology, University of Alicante, 03690 San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain.; Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Pintor Baeza 12, 03010 Alicante, Spain. |
| Abstrakt: |
Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) are the most frequently used rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnostic markers, but they are unable to anticipate the patient's evolution or response to treatment. The aim of this study was to identify possible severity biomarkers to predict an upcoming flare-up or remission period. To address this objective, sera and anticoagulated blood samples were collected from healthy controls (HCs; n = 39) and from early RA (n = 10), flare-up (n = 5), and remission (n = 16) patients. We analyzed leukocyte phenotype markers, regulatory T cells, cell proliferation, and cytokine profiles. Flare-up patients showed increased percentages of cluster of differentiation (CD)3 + CD4 - lymphocytes ( p < 0.01) and granulocytes ( p < 0.05) but a decreased natural killer (NK)/T lymphocyte ratio ( p < 0.05). Analysis of leukocyte markers by principal component analysis (PCA) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed that CD45RO + ( p < 0.0001) and CD45RA + ( p < 0.0001) B lymphocyte expression can discriminate between HCs and early RA patients, while CD3 + CD4 - lymphocyte percentage ( p < 0.0424) and CD45RA + ( p < 0.0424), CD62L + ( p < 0.0284), and CD11a + ( p < 0.0185) B lymphocyte expression can differentiate between flare-up and RA remission subjects. Thus, the combined study of these leukocyte surface markers could have potential as disease severity biomarkers for RA, whose fluctuations could be related to the development of the characteristic pro-inflammatory environment. |
