Inflammasome-Related Genetic Polymorphisms as Severity Biomarkers of COVID-19.

The most critical forms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are associated with excessive activation of the inflammasome. Despite the COVID-19 impact on public health, we still do not fully understand the mechanisms by which the inflammatory response influences disease prognosis. Accordingly, we aimed to elucidate the role of polymorphisms in the key genes of the formation and signaling of the inflammasome as biomarkers of COVID-19 severity.

E-Selectin, ICAM-1, and ET-1 Biomarkers Address the Concern of the Challenging Diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Disease in Patients with Autoimmune Diseases.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) constitutes the most critical comorbidity in autoimmune diseases (ADs) and its early diagnosis remains a challenge for clinicians. Accordingly, we evaluated whether E-selectin, ICAM-1, and ET-1, key molecules in endothelial damage, could be useful biomarkers for the detection of AD-ILD. We recruited patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-ILD ( = 21) and systemic sclerosis (SSc)-ILD ( = 21).

Elevated VCAM-1, MCP-1 and ADMA serum levels related to pulmonary fibrosis of interstitial lung disease associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Early diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) constitutes a challenge for the clinicians. Pulmonary vasculopathy is relevant in the development of interstitial lung disease. Accordingly, we aimed to explore the role of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), key molecules in the vasculopathy, as potential biomarkers of pulmonary fibrosis in RA-ILD.

Irisin as a Novel Biomarker of Subclinical Atherosclerosis, Cardiovascular Risk and Severe Disease in Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Introduction: Patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) have a high disease burden mainly due to the rheumatic disease itself, and also exhibit accelerated atherosclerosis, that leads to a higher incidence of cardiovascular (CV) disease. Accordingly, the identification of biomarkers of CV risk and inflammation in axSpA patients is clinically relevant. In this sense, given the beneficial functions exerted by the adipomyokine irisin in processes related to CV disease and inflammation, our aim was to assess, for the first time, the role of irisin as a genetic and serological biomarker of subclinical atherosclerosis, CV risk and disease severity in axSpA patients.

Angiogenic T Cells: Potential Biomarkers for the Early Diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Disease in Autoimmune Diseases?

(1) Background: We explored, for the first time, the contribution of angiogenic T cells (TAng) in interstitial lung disease associated to autoimmune disease (AD-ILD) as potential biomarkers of the disease, evaluating their role in the underlying vasculopathy and lung fibrosis. Additionally, the relationship of TAng with clinical manifestations and cellular and molecular endothelial dysfunction-related biomarkers was assessed. (2) Methods: We included 57 AD-ILD patients (21 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-ILD, 21 with systemic sclerosis (SSc)-ILD and 15 with other AD-ILD) and three comparative groups: 45 AD-ILD patients (25 RA-ILD and 20 SSc-ILD); 21 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients; 21 healthy controls (HC).

Role of the IL33 and IL1RL1 pathway in the pathogenesis of Immunoglobulin A vasculitis.

Cytokines signalling pathway genes are crucial factors of the genetic network underlying the pathogenesis of Immunoglobulin-A vasculitis (IgAV), an inflammatory vascular condition. An influence of the interleukin (IL)33- IL1 receptor like (IL1RL)1 signalling pathway on the increased risk of several immune-mediated diseases has been described. Accordingly, we assessed whether the IL33-IL1RL1 pathway represents a novel genetic risk factor for IgAV.

Endothelial Progenitor Cells: Relevant Players in the Vasculopathy and Lung Fibrosis Associated with the Presence of Interstitial Lung Disease in Systemic Sclerosis Patients.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), which are key effectors in the physiologic vascular network, have been described as relevant players in autoimmune diseases. We previously showed that EPC frequency may help to identify the presence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Given that ILD constitutes the main cause of mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, we aimed to determine the EPC contribution to the pathogenic processes of vasculopathy and lung fibrosis in SSc-ILD.

BAFF, APRIL and BAFFR on the pathogenesis of Immunoglobulin-A vasculitis.

BAFF, APRIL and BAFF-R are key proteins involved in the development of B-lymphocytes and autoimmunity. Additionally, BAFF, APRIL and BAFFR polymorphisms were associated with immune-mediated conditions, being BAFF GCTGT>A a shared insertion-deletion genetic variant for several autoimmune diseases. Accordingly, we assessed whether BAFF, APRIL and BAFFR represent novel genetic risk factors for Immunoglobulin-A vasculitis (IgAV), a predominantly B-lymphocyte inflammatory condition.

Role of Polymorphisms in the Susceptibility and Severity of Interstitial Lung Disease.

The search for biomarkers that can help to establish an early diagnosis and prognosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) is of potential interest. polymorphisms have been implicated in the development of several lung disorders. Consequently, we assessed, for the first time, the role of polymorphisms in the susceptibility and severity of ILD.

Vaspin in atherosclerotic disease and cardiovascular risk in axial spondyloarthritis: a genetic and serological study.

Background: Vaspin is a novel anti-inflammatory adipokine associated with cardiovascular (CV) disease and inflammation in chronic inflammatory conditions different from axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Given the high incidence of CV disease (mainly due to accelerated atherosclerosis) exhibited by axSpA patients, we wondered if vaspin could also be a key molecule in this process. However, data on the role of vaspin regarding atherosclerotic disease in the context of axSpA is scarce.

Endothelial Progenitor Cells as a Potential Biomarker in Interstitial Lung Disease Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) increases morbidity and mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although the pathogenesis of ILD associated with RA (RA-ILD) remains poorly defined, vascular tissue is crucial in lung physiology. In this context, endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are involved in endothelial tissue repair.

HLA association with the susceptibility to anti-synthetase syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) association with anti-synthetase syndrome (ASSD).

Methods: We conducted the largest immunogenetic HLA-DRB1 and HLA-B study to date in a homogeneous cohort of 168 Caucasian patients with ASSD and 486 ethnically matched healthy controls by sequencing-based-typing.

Results: A statistically significant increase of HLA-DRB1*03:01 and HLA-B*08:01 alleles in patients with ASSD compared to healthy controls was disclosed (26.

Omentin: a biomarker of cardiovascular risk in individuals with axial spondyloarthritis.

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the main cause of mortality in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). CV risk is enhanced by dysregulation of adipokines. Low omentin levels were associated with metabolic dysfunction and CV disease in conditions different from axSpA.

Role of IRF5 in the pathogenesis of immunoglobulin-A vasculitis.

Objectives: Interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) is a major regulator of type I interferon induction and is also critical to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines. An influence of IRF5 genetic variants on the increased risk of immune-mediated diseases has been described. Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate the implication of IRF5 in the pathogenesis of Immunoglobulin-A vasculitis (IgAV), an inflammatory vascular pathology.

Influence of IL17A gene on the pathogenesis of immunoglobulin-A vasculitis.

Objectives: Cytokines signaling pathway genes represent a key component of the genetic network implicated in the pathogenesis of immunoglobulin-A vasculitis (IgAV), an inflammatory vascular pathology. Interleukin (IL)17A is described as a genetic risk locus for some autoimmune diseases, such as giant cell arteritis and spondyloarthritis. Accordingly, we aimed to determine the potential influence of IL17A on the pathogenesis of IgAV.

Influence of MUC5B gene on antisynthetase syndrome.

MUC5B rs35705950 (G/T) is strongly associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and also contributes to the risk of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA-ILD) and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP). Due to this, we evaluated the implication of MUC5B rs35705950 in antisynthetase syndrome (ASSD), a pathology characterised by a high ILD incidence. 160 patients with ASSD (142 with ILD associated with ASSD [ASSD-ILD+]), 232 with ILD unrelated to ASSD (comprising 161 IPF, 27 RA-ILD and 44 CHP) and 534 healthy controls were genotyped.

Identification of a 3'-Untranslated Genetic Variant of RARB Associated With Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Genome-Wide Association Study.

Objective: To investigate the genetic background influencing the development of cardiovascular (CV) disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in which, after quality control and imputation, a total of 6,308,944 polymorphisms across the whole genome were analyzed in 2,989 RA patients of European origin. Data on subclinical atherosclerosis, obtained through assessment of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and presence/absence of carotid plaques by carotid ultrasonography, were available for 1,355 individuals.