Identification of Cell-Specific Differential DNA Methylation Associated With Methotrexate Treatment Response in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: We undertook this study to estimate changes in cell-specific DNA methylation (DNAm) associated with methotrexate (MTX) response using whole blood samples collected from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients before and after initiation of MTX treatment.

Methods: Patients included in this study were from the Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication Study (n = 66) and the University of California San Francisco Rheumatoid Arthritis study (n = 11). All patients met the American College of Rheumatology RA classification criteria.

Sleep Disturbance and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinations in Patients With Chronic Inflammatory Disease.

Objective: Immunocompromised patients with chronic inflammatory disease (CID) may have experienced additional psychosocial burden during the COVID-19 pandemic due to their immunocompromised status. This study was undertaken to determine if vaccination would result in improved patient-reported outcomes longitudinally among individuals with CID undergoing SARS-CoV-2 vaccination regardless of baseline anxiety.

Methods: Data are from a cohort of individuals with CID from 2 sites who underwent SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

HIV-1 infection abrogates CD8+ T cell mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling responses.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways are dynamic and sensitive regulators of T cell function and differentiation. Altered MAPK signaling has been associated with the inflammatory and autoimmune diseases lupus and arthritis and with some pathogenic viral infections. HIV-1 infection is characterized by chronic immune inflammation, aberrantly heightened CD8(+) T cell activation levels, and altered T cell function.