Elevated levels of soluble fractalkine and increased expression of CX3CR1 in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

The aim of the present study was to determine the levels of soluble fractalkine (sFKN) and expression of CX3CR1 in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). Disease activity of SLE was assessed using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). The mRNA expression levels of CX3CR1 and FKN were quantified using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Association of large intergenic noncoding RNA expression with disease activity and organ damage in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Introduction: Despite growing evidence that large intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) can regulate gene expression and widely take part in normal physiological and disease conditions, our knowledge of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-related lincRNAs remains limited. The aim of this study was to detect the levels of four lincRNAs (ENST00000500949: linc0949, ENST00000500597: linc0597, ENST00000501992: linc1992, and ENST00000523995: linc3995) involved in innate immunity in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with SLE and correlate these lincRNA levels with disease activity, organ damage, clinical features and medical therapies.

Methods: PBMCs were obtained from 102 patients with SLE, 54 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 76 healthy donors.

Expression, localization, and clinical application of the RNA binding domain of U1-70kD in HEp-2 cells.

Objective: To develop an improved substrate for indirect immunofluorescent test (IIF) to detect anti-U1-70kD autoantibodies.

Methods: The RNA binding domain of U1-70kD (U1BD) complementary DNA was obtained from human larynx carcinoma cell line HEp-2 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and cloned into the mammalian expression vector pEGFP-C1. The recombinant plasmid pEGFP-U1BD was transfected into HEp-2 cells.

Chest imaging manifestations in lupus nephritis.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between renal histopathological features and chest computed tomography (CT) findings in lupus nephritis (LN) patients. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and chest thin-section CT findings of 152 patients with an established diagnosis of LN based on renal biopsy and 93 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients without LN between April 2009 and March 2012. The 64-detector row CT images were retrospectively evaluated by an experienced thoracic radiologist without knowledge of the patients' clinical information except that all patients had SLE.

Efficacy and safety of abatacept in lupus nephritis: a twelve-month, randomized, double-blind study.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) abatacept, a selective T cell costimulation modulator, versus placebo for the treatment of active class III or IV lupus nephritis, when used on a background of mycophenolate mofetil and glucocorticoids.

Methods: This was a 12-month, randomized, phase II/III, multicenter, international, double-blind study. A total of 298 patients were treated in 1 of 3 IV treatment arms: placebo, abatacept at the standard weight-tiered dose (approximating 10 mg/kg), or abatacept at 30 mg/kg for 3 months, followed by the standard weight-tiered dose (abatacept 30/10).

Overview of lupus nephritis management guidelines and perspective from Asia.

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a common and important manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Evidence suggests higher rates of lupus renal involvement in Asian populations, and maybe more severe nephritis, compared with other racial or ethnic groups. The management of LN has evolved considerably over the past three decades, based on observations from clinical studies that investigated different immunosuppressive agents including corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, mycophenolic acid, calcineurin inhibitors and novel biologic therapies.

Expression, localization and clinical application of exogenous Smith proteins D1 in gene transfected HEp-2 cells.

Aim: To establish an improved substrate for an indirect immunofluorescence test (IIF) to detect anti-Sm antibody.

Methods: Full-length Smith protein D1(Sm-D1) complementary DNA was obtained from human larynx carcinoma cell line HEp-2 by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and cloned into the mammalian expression vector pEGFP-C1. The recombinant plasmid pEGFP-Sm-D1 was transfected into HEp-2 cells.

Overview of lupus nephritis management guidelines and perspective from Asia.

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a common and important manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Evidence suggests higher rates of lupus renal involvement in Asian populations, and maybe more severe nephritis, compared with other racial or ethnic groups. The management of LN has evolved considerably over the past three decades, based on observations from clinical studies that investigated different immunosuppressive agents including corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, mycophenolic acid, calcineurin inhibitors and novel biologic therapies.

A genetic role for macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in adult-onset Still's disease.

Introduction: Adult-onset still's disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory disorder in which abnormalities in inflammatory cytokines production appear to play a pathophysiological role. Our previous work has reported increased expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and revealed its correlation with disease severity and activity in AOSD. A -173 G/C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs755622) and a -794 CATT₅₋₈ repeat (rs5844572) in the MIF promoter have been reported.

Etoricoxib versus indometacin in the treatment of Chinese patients with acute gouty arthritis: a randomized double-blind trial.

Background: Acute gout is an intensely painful, inflammatory arthritis. Although the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used for this condition, the efficacy is based on only a few studies, particularly in China. We tried to assess the safety and efficacy of etoricoxib in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis in China.

Current considerations for the management of musculoskeletal pain in Asian countries: a special focus on cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors and non-steroid anti-inflammation drugs.

Chronic pain is a complex problem that eludes precise definition and can be clinically difficult to diagnose and challenging to treat. In the Asia-Pacific region, prevalence estimates that chronic pain ranges from 12% to 45% of the population, with musculoskeletal, rheumatic or osteoarthritis pain making up the majority of the disease burden. Implementation of current management guidelines into routine clinical practice has been challenging and as a result, patients with musculoskeletal pain are often poorly managed.

Identification of microRNA-31 as a novel regulator contributing to impaired interleukin-2 production in T cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function to fine-tune the control of immune cell signaling. It is well established that there are abnormalities in the interleukin-2 (IL-2)-related signaling pathways in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The miR-31 microRNA has been found to be markedly underexpressed in patients with SLE, and thus the present study was undertaken to investigate the role of miR-31 in IL-2 defects in lupus T cells.

New insights into the role and mechanism of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in steroid-resistant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Introduction: Glucocorticoid (GC) therapy remains important in improving the prognosis of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, some patients do not achieve an effective response with GC treatment, creating an obstacle to the remission of SLE. Identification of the underlying mechanisms responsible for steroid resistance can be significant.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotype of CYP2E1 gene associated with systemic lupus erythematosus in Chinese population.

Introduction: Cytochrome P-450 2E1 (CYP2E1) is an important member of the CYP superfamily, which is involved in the metabolism and activation of many low molecular weight toxic compounds. We tried to investigate the possible association of CYP2E1 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a Chinese Han population.

Methods: The coding and flanking regions of the CYP2E1 gene were scanned for polymorphisms and tag SNPs were selected.

[A multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, phase III clinical study of etanercept in treatment of ankylosing spondylitis].

Objective: To evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of etanercept treatment in Chinese patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: This was a 12-week multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized phase III clinical study. The first part was a 6-week placebo-controlled period followed by a 6-week open-label period.

miR-155 and its star-form partner miR-155* cooperatively regulate type I interferon production by human plasmacytoid dendritic cells.

The recent discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) has revealed a new layer of gene expression regulation, affecting the immune system. Here, we identify their roles in regulating human plasmacytoid dendritic cell (PDC) activation. miRNA profiling showed the significantly differential expression of 19 miRNAs in PDCs after Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) stimulation, among which miR-155* and miR-155 were the most highly induced.

Sex-specific association of X-linked Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) with male systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem, autoimmune disease that predominantly affects women. Previous findings that duplicated Toll-like receptor 7 (Tlr7) promotes lupus-like disease in male BXSB mice prompted us to evaluate TLR7 in human SLE. By using a candidate gene approach, we identified and replicated association of a TLR7 3'UTR SNP, rs3853839 (G/C), with SLE in 9,274 Eastern Asians (P(combined) = 6.

MicroRNA-125a contributes to elevated inflammatory chemokine RANTES levels via targeting KLF13 in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: MicroRNA (miRNA) have received increasing attention as posttranscriptional regulators that fine-tune the homeostasis of the inflammatory response. This study aimed to clarify whether miR-125a, which was identified in a pilot expression profiling step, is involved in the inflammatory chemokine pathway in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Independent verification of miR-125a expression in amplified samples from SLE patients and normal controls was performed by TaqMan quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.

Expressions of IL-18 and its binding protein in peripheral blood leukocytes and kidney tissues of lupus nephritis patients.

To investigate the expressions of IL-18 and its binding protein (IL-18BP) in peripheral blood leukocytes and kidney tissues in patients with lupus nephritis (LN). SYBR-green-dye-I-based real-time quantitative PCR method was used to compare the gene expression levels (indicated as 2(-DeltaDeltaCT) value) of IL-18 and IL-18BP in the peripheral blood leucocytes of LN patients and those in normal controls. Serum levels of IL-18 were measured with ELISA method.

MicroRNA-146A contributes to abnormal activation of the type I interferon pathway in human lupus by targeting the key signaling proteins.

Objective: MicroRNA have recently been identified as regulators that modulate target gene expression and are involved in shaping the immune response. This study was undertaken to investigate the contribution of microRNA-146a (miR-146a), which was identified in the pilot expression profiling step, to the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: TaqMan microRNA assays of peripheral blood leukocytes were used for comparison of expression levels of microRNA between SLE patients and controls.

Evaluation of risk factors that contribute to high prevalence of premature atherosclerosis in Chinese premenopausal systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of atherosclerosis in Chinese premenopausal women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and study possible associations between traditional and nontraditional risk factors with premature atherosclerosis.

Methods: We evaluated 111 premenopausal women with SLE and 40 healthy controls without clinical cardiovascular disease. B-mode ultrasound was used to measure carotid plaque and intima-media wall thickness (IMT).

T-614, a novel immunomodulator, attenuates joint inflammation and articular damage in collagen-induced arthritis.

Introduction: T-614 is a novel oral antirheumatic agent for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Whether it has immunomodulatory or disease-modifying properties and its mechanism of action are largely undetermined.

Methods: Rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) were treated with T-614 (5 and 20 mg/kg) daily.

Interferon-induced protein IFIT4 is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and promotes differentiation of monocytes into dendritic cell-like cells.

Introduction: Using oligonucleotide microarray, many IFN-inducible genes have been found to be highly expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from most patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Among these IFN-inducible genes, IFN-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 4 (IFIT4) is a novel gene whose function is unknown.

Methods: In this study we examined the role played by IFIT4 in monocyte differentiation and the correlation between IFIT4 expression and the clinical manifestation of SLE.

A comparison study of a recombinant tumor necrosis factor receptor:Fc fusion protein (rhTNFR:Fc) and methotrexate in treatment of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis in China.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rhTNFR:Fc: a recombinant tumor necrosis factor receptor:Fc fusion protein compared with methotrexate (MTX) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in China. We treated 238 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis with either twice weekly subcutaneous injection rhTNFR:Fc (25 mg) or weekly oral MTX (mean 15 mg per week) for 24 weeks (registration number: 2003L01264). Clinical responses were defined as the percent improvement in disease activity according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR-N).

Dysfunctional CD4+,CD25+ regulatory T cells in untreated active systemic lupus erythematosus secondary to interferon-alpha-producing antigen-presenting cells.

Objective: To explore whether there are extrinsic factors that impair the suppressive function of CD4+,CD25+ regulatory T cells in patients with untreated active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We studied 15 patients with untreated active SLE, 10 patients with SLE in remission, and 15 healthy control subjects. Percentages of CD4+,CD25+,FoxP3+ Treg cells and levels of forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) protein were analyzed by flow cytometry.