CD32 (FcγRIIB) expression is low on CD21 B cells from systemic sclerosis patients with digital ulcers, interstitial lung disease, and anti-topoisomerase I autoantibodies.

CD21 B cells have recently been found increased in SSc-associated digital ulcers (DUs) or interstitial lung disease (ILD). To further characterize CD21 B cells which encompass autoreactive cells, we analyzed their expression of the inhibitory CD32 receptor in SSc. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 27 patients with SSc and 15 age-and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were analyzed with multicolor flow cytometry.

COVID-19 vaccine-associated myositis: a comprehensive review of the literature driven by a case report.

Several cases of vaccine-associated manifestations have been published including cases of inflammatory myositis. Herein, we comprehensively review the literature on the occasion of case of a woman with inflammatory myositis following COVID-19 vaccination. A 67-year-old woman presented with left arm edema, rash, and weakness after the 2 dose of the BTN162b2 vaccine.

Nutritional Aspects of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: An A to Z for Dietitians.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) represents a chronic, autoimmune, rheumatic musculoskeletal disease with a diagnosis before 16 years of age. Chronic arthritis is a common manifestation in all JIA subtypes. The nature of JIA, in combination to its therapy often results in the development of nutrition-, gastrointestinal (GI)- or metabolic-related issues.

Patterns and factors associated with pneumococcal vaccination in a prospective cohort of 1,697 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk for serious infections. Pneumococcal vaccination is among the most important preventive measures, however, vaccine uptake is suboptimal. We explored the rate and factors associated with pneumococcal vaccination in a contemporary RA cohort.

Giant Hip Synovial Cyst Causing Deep Vein Thrombosis and Femoral Head Osteonecrosis in a Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient.

Hip synovial cysts are rare. However, in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) they present in higher frequency than in general population. Herein, we present an unusual case of a 67-year-old man with RA that presented with unilateral leg oedema and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).

The role of B cells in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis: an update.

The pathogenesis of SSc is incompletely understood, but several lines of evidence suggest that B cells are involved. Effector B (Beff) cells are hyperactivated and produce autoantibodies (autoAbs), and regulatory B cells (Bregs) are decreased, although a recent study reported a defect in central B cell tolerance. AutoAbs appear before fibrosis, and some have direct profibrotic effects, while others also induce microvasculopathy.

Autoinflammatory syndromes with coexisting variants in Mediterranean FeVer and other genes: Utility of multiple gene screening and the possible impact of gene dosage.

Objective: To assess the possible impact conferred by co-existing variants in MEditerranean FeVer (MEFV) and other genes on systemic autoinflammatory disease (SAID) phenotype.

Methods: Consecutive patients (n = 42) who underwent screening for SAIDs by next generation sequencing (NGS) targeting 26 genes, and carried at least one MEFV gene variant, were retrospectively studied. A total of 63 MEFV gene variants mainly located in exon 10 (n = 29) and exon 2 (n = 19) were identified in 21 patients with juvenile- and 21 with adult-onset disease.

Tetracyclines Diminish IFN-γ and IL-17-Producing Adaptive and Innate Immune Cells in Multiple Sclerosis.

Introduction: Limited data from clinical trials in multiple sclerosis (MS) reported that minocycline, a widely used antibiotic belonging to the family of tetracyclines (TCs), exerts a beneficial short-lived clinical effect A similar anti-inflammatory effect of minocycline attributed to a deviation from Th1 to Th2 immune response has been reported in experimental models of MS. Whether such an immunomodulatory mechanism is operated in the human disease remains largely unknown.

Aim: To assess the immunomodulatory effect of tetracyclines, and in particular minocycline and doxycycline, in naïve and treated patients with MS.

Outcome of refractory to conventional and/or biologic treatment adult Still's disease following canakinumab treatment: Countrywide data in 50 patients.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of the IL-1b inhibitor canakinumab in all adults with refractory Still's disease identified from the National Organization For Medicines for off-label drug use.

Methods: In a retrospective longitudinal multicenter cohort of 50 patients (median age 39 years) with active Still's disease despite treatment with corticosteroids (n = 11), conventional and synthetic (n = 34) and/or biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (n = 30), we assessed the efficacy of canakinumab 150-300 mg administered every 4 (n = 47) or 8 weeks (n = 3) as combination therapy or monotherapy (n = 7) during a median follow-up of 27 (3-84) months.

Results: Α complete response was initially observed in 78% of patients within 3 months (median), irrespective of age at disease onset.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a patient with systemic sclerosis treated with methotrexate: A case report and literature review.

Reactivation of viruses occurs in autoimmune disorders in the setting of certain immunosuppressive drugs. We describe a 54-year-old female with systemic sclerosis and extensive cutaneous calcinosis who had been treated with methotrexate for 18 months and presented with headache and neurological deficits. She was diagnosed with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, a rare disease caused by JC virus.

Autoantibodies against specific nuclear antigens are present in psoriatic disease and are diminished by secukinumab.

Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) are frequently detected in patients with psoriasis (Ps) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), but their target autoantigens remain unknown. We assessed antibody (ab) reactivity against 23 known nuclear antigens in patients with Ps and PsA and assess the effects of secukinumab (anti-IL17A) treatment on ANA levels. A total of 201 patients, 101 with Ps and 100 with PsA, and 50 ANA-negative healthy controls (HCs) were tested for ANAs by a line immunoassay testing reactivity to 23 nuclear antigens.

A study of antigen-specific anti-cytomegalovirus antibody reactivity in patients with systemic sclerosis and concomitant anti-Ro52 antibodies.

Anti-Ro52 autoantibody (autoAb), highly prevalent in Sjogren's syndrome (SjS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is also frequent in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Viral agents, such as human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), have been considered as a trigger for SSc and SSc-associated autoAbs. To seek for antigen-specific anti-HCMV associations with anti-Ro52, we assessed the dominant anti-HCMV ab responses in anti-Ro52 antibody (ab)-positive and -negative patients with SSc and compared them with those in SLE and SjS.

Comparable or higher prevalence of comorbidities in antiphospholipid syndrome vs rheumatoid arthritis: a multicenter, case-control study.

Objectives: Evidence on comorbidity prevalence in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and its difference from high comorbidity burden rheumatic diseases is limited. Herein, we compare multiple comorbidities between APS and RA.

Methods: A total of 326 patients from the Greek APS registry [237 women, mean age 48.

Regulation of microRNA in systemic lupus erythematosus: the role of miR-21 and miR-210.

miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that participate through silencing in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of microRNAs (miRNAs) as regulators of both the innate and the adaptive immune response. There are emerging data regarding the role of miRNAs in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

Interstitial Lung Disease in Anti-Synthetase Syndrome.

Anti-synthetase syndrome is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the presence of autoantibodies against aminoacyl transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetases, and myositis, interstitial lung disease (ILD), arthritis, fever and Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). We present a 54-year-old woman, who complained of fatigue, low-grade fever, myalgias, arthralgias, RP and dyspnoea on exertion. Chest CT scan revealed features of interstitial lung disease.

Apremilast increases IL-10-producing regulatory B cells and decreases proinflammatory T cells and innate cells in psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.

Objectives: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis are immune-mediated inflammatory diseases sharing common immunological mechanisms. Regulatory B cells (Breg cells) producing IL-10 (B10 cells), a critical anti-inflammatory B-cell subset, were found to be decreased in both PsA and psoriasis. Apremilast, a phosphodiesterase-4(PDE4) inhibitor, increases IL-10 and therefore, we examined the effect of apremilast on Breg cells.

Anti-C1q autoantibodies are frequently detected in patients with systemic sclerosis associated with pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Anti-C1q autoantibodies (autoAbs) are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but their presence in other rheumatic diseases has not been adequately investigated.

Objectives: We aimed to assess anti-C1q autoAbs and circulating immune complexes (CICs) in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: In total 124 patients with SSc were studied; 106 were female and the median age was 59·4 years (range 25-81·4).

Anti-Ro60 Seropositivity Determines Anti-Ro52 Epitope Mapping in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis.

Epitope mapping of anti-Ro52 antibodies (Abs) has been extensively studied in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Comprehensive epitope mapping in systemic sclerosis (SSc), where anti-Ro52 antibodies are also frequently detected, has not been performed. The aim of the present study was to fully characterize Ro52 epitopes in anti-Ro52-positive SSc using Ro52 fragments spanning the full antigen.

Curcumin for the Management of Periodontitis and Early ACPA-Positive Rheumatoid Arthritis: Killing Two Birds with One Stone.

We propose curcumin as a preventive measure to avoid/manage periodontitis (PD), and as a natural immunosuppressant for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). PD, mainly caused by forming biofilm and leading to tooth decay, is a major public health issue and a risk factor for the development of RA in humans. is able to trigger experimental autoimmune arthritis in animal models and in humans can induce citrullinated peptides, which not only are a source of anti-citrullinated antibodies (ACPAs), but also participate in autoreactive responses and disease development.

Immunotherapy of systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic systemic disease characterized by microvasculopathy, immune activation, and extensive collagen deposition. Microvasculopathy and immune activation occur very early in the disease process. Evidence from animal models and in vitro studies indicate that T-cells and B-cells activate fibroblasts to produce collagen.

IL-10 producing Bregs are impaired in psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis and inversely correlate with IL-17- and IFNγ-producing T cells.

Our aim was to study CD19(+)CD27(+)CD24(high) memory and CD19(+)CD24(high)CD38(high) transitional and IL-10+Breg cells, known to inhibit Th1 and Th17 cells in experimental arthritis, in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis (Ps). Peripheral blood Breg cells from 60 patients with PsA, 50 patients with Ps and 23 healthy controls were analyzed by flow cytometry. IL-17A-producing CD3(+) T cells and IFNγ-producing CD3(+) T cells and activation of p38 MAPK and STAT3 were also studied.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL44 and UL57 specific antibody responses in anti-HCMV-positive patients with systemic sclerosis.

The role of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been postulated as a trigger of systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of antibodies against HCMV UL44 and UL57 antigens not tested in the past. Sixty SSc patients, 40 multiple sclerosis and 17 normal controls (NCs), all anti-HCMV positive, were tested by immunoblotting.