EZH2 deficiency attenuates Treg differentiation in rheumatoid arthritis.

The chromatin modifier enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) methylates lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27) and regulates T cell differentiation. However, the potential role of EZH2 in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains elusive. We analyzed EZH2 expression in PBMC, CD4 T cells, CD19 B cell, and CD14 monocytes from active treatment-naïve RA patients and healthy controls (HC).

Comparison of the impact of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F and Methotrexate treatment on radiological progression in active rheumatoid arthritis: 2-year follow up of a randomized, non-blinded, controlled study.

Background: Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) alone or in combination with methotrexate (MTX) has been shown to be more effective than MTX monotherapy in controlling the manifestations in subjects with disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-naïve active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) over a 6-month period. The long-term impact of these therapies on disease activity and radiographic progression in RA has not been examined.

Methods: Patients with DMARD-naïve RA enrolled in the "Comparison of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F with methotrexate in the Treatment of Active Rheumatoid Arthritis" (TRIFRA) study were randomly allocated into three arms with TwHF or MTX or the two in combination.

Good outcome of severe lupus patients with high-dose immunosuppressive therapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation: a 10-year follow-up study.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the long-term efficacy, remission and survival of patients with severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) after the combination treatment with high-dose immunosuppressive therapy (HDIT) and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT).

Methods: Chinese patients with severe SLE receiving combination therapy with HDIT and APBSCT in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were enrolled from July 1999 to October 2005. Disease activity, treatment, and adverse effects of these patients were evaluated.

Contribution and underlying mechanisms of CXCR4 overexpression in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Aberrant expression of CXCR4 has been indicated to play a role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but the mechanism of CXCR4 dysregulation in SLE is unclear. This study is aimed to explore the clinical significance and possible mechanisms of abnormal CXCR4 expression on B cells from patients with untreated SLE. Expression of CXCR4 on peripheral B cells was determined by flow cytometry and western blotting.

Effect of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme a reductase inhibitor on disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (also known as statins) are widely used as lipid-lowering agents in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to reduce their cardiovascular risk. However, whether they have an effect on RA disease activity is controversial. This study aimed to investigate the effect of statins on disease activity in RA patients.

Defective PTEN regulation contributes to B cell hyperresponsiveness in systemic lupus erythematosus.

PTEN regulates normal signaling through the B cell receptor (BCR). In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), enhanced BCR signaling contributes to increased B cell activity, but the role of PTEN in human SLE has remained unclear. We performed fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis in B cells from SLE patients and found that all SLE B cell subsets, except for memory B cells, showed decreased expression of PTEN compared with B cells from healthy controls.

Comparison of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F with methotrexate in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (TRIFRA): a randomised, controlled clinical trial.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) with methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Design: a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial. All patients were assessed by trained investigators who were unaware of the therapeutic regimen.

Aberrant CD200/CD200R1 expression and function in systemic lupus erythematosus contributes to abnormal T-cell responsiveness and dendritic cell activity.

Introduction: CD200 is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein that can regulate the activation threshold of inflammatory immune responses, polarize cytokine production, and maintain immune homeostasis. We therefore evaluated the functional status of CD200/CD200 receptor 1 (CD200R1) interactions in subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Serum CD200 level was detected by ELISA.

Abnormal expression of CD43 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and its clinical significance.

Background: Previous studies indicate that CD43 plays a role in regulating the adhesion of lymphocytes, cell mutation and activation, however, little is known about its effect on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study was designed to explore the clinical significance of CD43 in SLE patients.

Methods: We used microarray and real-time PCR to detect the mRNA and protein expression of magnetic bead sorted T cells and B cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of SLE patients, and analyzed the relationship between CD43 and the clinical indexes.

Induction of endothelial cell apoptosis by anti-alpha-enolase antibody.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of anti-alpha-enolase antibody in systemic autoimmune diseases in Chinese patients and its role in endothelial cell apoptosis.

Methods: The reactivity of anti-alpha-enolase antibody in a variety of autoimmune disorders in Chinese patients was evaluated by dot blot assay. Endothelial cell apoptosis was investigated by in vitro incubation of endothelial cells with IgG purified from anti-alpha-enolase antibody-positive sera, with or without pre-incubation with recombinant alpha-enolase.

p53 in fibroblast-like synoviocytes can regulate T helper cell functions in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: p53 is a tumor suppressor and plays a key role in regulating cell hyperplasia, repairing DNA and inducing apoptosis. This study was to investigate p53 expression in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and its effect on CD4(+) T lymphocytes from patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Human FLS were transfected with p53 siRNA and cocultured with CD4(+) T lymphocytes from patients with active RA.

The safety and effectiveness of a chloroform/methanol extract of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (T2) plus methotrexate in treating rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of the chloroform/methanol extract of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (T2) plus methotrexate (MTX) in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: One hundred sixty-six patients with RA, who started the combination therapy of T2 (20 mg b.i.

[The soluble expression and identification of single-chain fragment V antibodies against SSA antigen epitopes from the pHEN2 phagemid library].

Objective: To obtain the soluble single-chain fragment V (ScFv) monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) against the SSA antigen epitopes.

Methods: Three octapeptides (60000 SSA antigen residues 482-493 termed as P1 epitope, residues 310-323 termed as P2 epitope and residues 230-241 termed as P3 epitope) were synthesized on the lysine frame. The McAbs were panned by coating the corresponding as targets.

[A study of T cell recombination excision circles levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of systemic lupus erythematosus patients].

Objective: To compare the T cell receptor recombination excision cycle (TREC) levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with normal age- and gender- matched controls. To investigate the correlations between TREC levels of SLE patients and their clinical features.

Methods: We studied TREC levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 21 SLE patients and 22 normal age- and sex-matched controls.

[Analysis of risk factors for reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome in lupus].

Objective: To analyze the different risk factors for reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: The clinical and imaging characteristics of 2 cases were described in details. The literature reports for 33 cases of SLE and RPLS were reviewed systematically.

[Expression of SSA antigen epitopes in minor salivary glands from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the differential expression of 60 000 SSA epitopes in minor salivary glands (MSG) from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and glandular inflammation.

Methods: The screening and soluble expression of single-chain fragment V monoclonal antibodies (Scfv McAb) against SSA antigen epitopes (P1: 480 - 494, P2: 310 - 323 and P3: 230 - 241) were performed by phagemid antibody expression system. The expression of epitopes was detected by immunohistochemical assay (IH) in minor salivary glands from these patients.

[Characteristics of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: analysis of 9 cases].

Objective: To characterize the clinical patterns of expression, laboratory serologic parameters and lymphomatous histological characteristics in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) who subsequently developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

Methods: The authors analyzed 9 pSS patients (8 females, 1 male) who developed NHL. Five patients had received glucocorticoids, four of whom had received at least one immunosuppressive drugs (methotrexate, glucosidorum tripterygll totorum, cyclophosphamide and imuran).

Are CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ cells in untreated new-onset lupus patients regulatory T cells?

Introduction: Our previous study has reported that, in patients with untreated new-onset lupus (UNOL), there was an abnormal increase in the number of CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells that correlated with disease activity and significantly decreased after treatment. However, little is known about the nature of this cell entity. The aim of this study was to explore the nature of abnormally increased CD4+CD25-Foxp3+ T cells in UNOL patients.

Protein-losing enteropathy in systemic lupus erythematosus: analysis of the clinical features of fifteen patients.

Objective: Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is an unusual manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), so its clinical manifestations and management are not well understood. In this study, we try to characterize the basic clinical features and the management of PLE by retrospectively analyzing the clinical data of 15 PLE patients and hope this study can improve the awareness of PLE in lupus patients with severe hypoalbuminemia that could not be explained by other causes.

Methods: The clinical data of 15 SLE patients with PLE hospitalized during November 2001 and April 2006 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively reviewed.

[A prospective and randomized study of two conditioning regimens in treatment of severe systemic autoimmune diseases with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation].

Objective: To investigate the differences in immune reconstitution, hematopoietic reconstitution, efficacy, and complication between the two conditioning regimens with or without total body irradiation (TBI) in patients with refractory and severe autoimmune diseases (AID) who receiving autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT).

Methods: Thirty-two AID patients, 5 males and 27 females, aged 29 (15 - 49), underwent APBSCT. The CD34(+) cells were mobilized with cytoxan (CTX) + granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and selected by clinical magnetic activated cell sorting (CliniMACS).

Peripheral blood CD34+ cell mobilization in 42 patients with severe autoimmune disease.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of peripheral CD34+ cell mobilization in patients with severe autoimmune disease.

Methods: Forty-two patients underwent a total of 46 mobilizations by the regimen of cyclophosphamide 2-3 g/m2+ recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) 5 microg x kg(-1) x d(-1). The positive selection of CD34+ cell was performed through the CliniMACS.

[Clinical analysis of 29 patients with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis].

Objective: To explore the clinical features and prognosis of clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (C-ADM).

Methods: The clinical data, including skin lesion, muscle involvement, and lung disease, of 29 patients with C-ADM, 6 males and 23 females with a male/female ratio of 1:3.83, aged 44 +/- 8, were analyzed.

[Changes of lymphocyte subsets in autologous hemopoietic stem cell transplantation for severe/refractory autoimmune disease].

Objective: To investigate the dynamic changes of lymphocyte subsets before and after autologous hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in severe/refractory autoimmune disease (AID) and study the post-transplantation immunological reconstitution in AID.

Methods: Thirteen patients with severe/refractory AID who registered for HSCT from April 2003 to April 2005 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, including 8 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 4 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and 1 patient with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were collected before/after mobilization, before conditioning, and 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months post-transplantation.

[Detection of anti-Scl-70 antibody by recombinant fusion peptide enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: a preliminary study].

Objective: To detect anti-Scl-70 antibody with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a recombinant fusion peptide which comprises 207 - 765 amino acid fragment of Scl-70 as antigen.

Methods: cDNA encoding Scl-70 antigen fragment from aa207 to aa765 from human placenta cDNA first strand was amplified with PCR. The obtained cDNA was inserted into expression vector Pet-42b and transferred into E.