Expression patterns of T cells-specific long noncoding RNAs in systemic lupus erythematosus patients carrying HLA risk/nonrisk alleles.

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) play key roles in the regulation of gene expression and subsequently in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to explore the peripheral expression levels of T-cells-specific LncRNAs and transcription factors in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients carrying either human leukocyte antigens (HLA) risk or non-risk alleles.

Methods: Genotypes of and loci for 106 SLE patients were determined by PCR-SSP.

Peripheral distributions of IL-4-producing CD4 + T cells and CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 + T cells (Tregs) in rheumatoid arthritis patients with poor response to therapy are associated with HLA shared epitope alleles and ACPA status.

Specific profiling of CD4 + T cell subsets in the circulation and inflamed joints of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients may have therapeutic implications. This study aimed to evaluate the peripheral distributions of Th2 and Treg cells in relation to HLA-shared epitope (SE) alleles and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPAs) status in patients with good response (GR) and poor response (PR) to treatment. The frequencies of IL-4-producing CD4 + T cells (Th2) and CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + T cells (Tregs) were determined by flow cytometry in 167 RA patients including 114 GR and 53 PR cases.

Relevance of autoantibody profile with HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles in a group of Iranian systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Background: One of the most relevant genetic components in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene complex which plays a central role in autoimmune responses. This study aimed to explore the associations of HLA-DRB1/-DQB1 alleles and haplotypes with SLE risk and the appearance of autoantibodies in SLE disease.

Methods: A total of 127 SLE patients and 153 ethnically matched healthy controls were enrolled.

Clinical Relevance of HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 Alleles in Iranian Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients.

Given the potential link between genetic risk factors and clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), this study aimed to explore the relationship between human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1/DQB1 alleles and haplotypes and clinical sub-phenotypes of the disease in a group of Iranian SLE patients. HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 alleles were determined by PCR-SSP in 127 SLE patients and 153 ethnically-matched healthy controls. The relationships between various clinical manifestations and HLA alleles/haplotypes were analyzed in the patients.

Altered expression of microRNAs may predict therapeutic response in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Background: Epigenetic alternations of microRNAs (miRNAs) can contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to measure the expression level of peripheral blood miRNAs, as well as their target mRNAs, in RA patients and healthy controls (HCs), and to evaluate the potential of miRNAs as promising non-invasive biomarkers of treatment response.

Methods: The peripheral expression of miRNAs, including miR-146a, miR-146b, miR-150, miR-155, miR-125a-5p, miR-223, miR-26a, and miR-21, as well as their target mRNAs, was analyzed in 90 RA patients and 30 HCs via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay.

Circulating IFN-γ producing CD4+ T cells and IL-17A producing CD4+ T cells, HLA-shared epitope and ACPA may characterize the clinical response to therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

This study analyzed the association between peripheral distributions of helper T cell subsets, HLA shared-epitope (SE), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) and clinical response to therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Frequencies of IFN-γ-producing CD4+T (Th1) and IL-17A-producing CD4+T (Th17) cells were determined by flow cytometry in 167 patients (114 cases with good-response (GR) and 53 poor-response (PR) based on DAS28). HLA-DRB1 alleles for patients and 150 healthy controls were determined by PCR-SSP.

Development and psychometric properties of a self-care behaviors scale (SCBS) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: The role of self-care behaviors in promoting physical function, pain management, health status and quality of life among patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is well documented. However, there is no valid and reliable instrument in the literature to assess such behaviors among the patients. In the present study, we aimed to develop and assess the psychometric properties of a Self-care Behaviors Scale (SCBS) among patients with RA.

A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Effects of Oral N-Acetyl Cysteine on Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a common inflammatory disease of the joints. Due to the importance of inflammation and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of RA, drugs that have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, such as N-acetyl Cysteine (NAC), can be used as adjunctive therapy in patients with RA.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral NAC on inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress in patients with RA.

Vitamin D3 inhibits the proliferation of T helper cells, downregulate CD4 T cell cytokines and upregulate inhibitory markers.

1 α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VitD3) has been suggested to have strong modulatory properties in the immune system. Researchers in the present study primarily aimed to understand the effect of VitD3 on human CD4 T cell proliferation in antigen presenting cells (APCs) free condition in vitro. The effect of VitD3 on intracellular cytokine responses trend to Th1, Th2, Th17 and Th22 was evaluated using the flow cytometry.

Evaluating the Effect of Oral N-acetylcysteine as an Adjuvant Treatment on Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized, Double Blind Clinical Trial.

Objective: Oxidative stress and Overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines are contributed in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant and antiinflammatory agent which demonstrated analgesic effects in some studies. This study is designed to assess the effects of oral NAC as an adjuvant therapy on the clinical outcomes of patients with active RA.

Absence of a positive correlation between CRP and leptin in rheumatoid arthritis.

Aims: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a model of chronic inflammatory disease. In this study we evaluated the correlation of leptin and CRP in patients with RA and normal controls.

Main Methods: A total of 75 patients with RA and 40 healthy adults were recruited in this case-control study.

Systemic Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease bordering lupus lymphadenitis: A fresh look?

A 31-year old woman with persistent fever for 6 weeks and unresponsive to antibiotic therapy came for rheumatologic investigation. After computed tomography (CT) studies of her neck, thorax and abdomen revealed bilateral cervical, axillary and retroperitoneal lymph node enlargements, histopathologic evaluation of the resected nodes showed features of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenopathy suggestive of Kikuchi-Fujimoto's lymphadenopathy. Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease (KFD) involving the retroperitoneal nodes is extremely unusual and even more challenging to diagnose when there are no early signs of extranodal involvement or abdominopelvic pain.