Osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand mRNA expression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls.

Objective: To further understand the role of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANK-L) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we studied the levels of RANK-L and OPG mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and synovial tissue of patients with RA and controls.

Methods: RANK-L and OPG mRNA levels were measured in PBMC and CD4+/CD8+ T cell subsets of patients with chronic RA, osteoarthritis (OA), and healthy controls, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. OPG and RANK-L mRNA levels were measured in paired blood and synovial tissue samples of patients with early, untreated RA at 2 timepoints with an interval of 16 weeks.

Dynamic T cell receptor clonotype changes in synovial tissue of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis: effects of treatment with cyclosporin A (Neoral).

Objective: To study T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire changes in synovial membrane over a 16 week period in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA); and to study the influence of cyclosporin A (CSA) on TCR repertoire in a subgroup of these patients.

Methods: Synovial tissue biopsies and paired blood samples were obtained from 12 patients with early RA at 2 time points. Seven patients were treated with CSA (Neoral-Sandimmun, 3 mg/kg/day) and 5 patients with placebo for 16 weeks.