The functional change of the P2X7R containing the Ala to Thr polymorphism is associated with the pathogenesis of gout.

Our previous study has shown that ATP action on P2X7R could be the second signal to induce the onset of gouty arthritis. However, the functional changes of P2X7R single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the effects of ATP-P2X7R-IL-1β signaling pathway and uric acid remained unknown. We aimed to investigate the association between the functional change of P2X7R containing the Ala to Thr polymorphisms (rs1718119) and the pathogenesis of gout.

Expression profile of PU.1 in CD4T cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease with complex genetic predisposing factors involved. PU.1 is an important member of the ETS transcription factors family which has diverse functions such as regulating the proliferation, differentiation of immune cells and multiple inflammatory cytokines.

Rapid Onset of Efficacy of Baricitinib in Chinese Patients with Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results from Study RA-BALANCE.

Introduction: Baricitinib is an oral, selective inhibitor of Janus kinase which demonstrates clinical efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This report aims to analyze the onset time of baricitinib in Chinese patients with moderately to severely active RA who had an inadequate response to methotrexate.

Methods: This post hoc analysis evaluated clinical improvements of Chinese patients treated with baricitinib 4 mg once daily compared with placebo, based on data from a phase 3 study RA-BALANCE.

Efficacy and Safety of Baricitinib in Chinese Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients and the Subgroup Analyses: Results from Study RA-BALANCE.

Introduction: Baricitinib is an oral selective inhibitor of Janus kinase (JAK) 1 and JAK 2, which has demonstrated significant efficacy in patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This analysis aims to describe the efficacy and safety of baricitinib in Chinese RA patients with an inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX-IR), and to analyze the effects of baseline characteristics on the efficacy of baricitinib treatment.

Methods: In this 52-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 231 Chinese patients with moderately to severely active RA who had MTX-IR were randomly assigned to placebo (n = 115) or baricitinib 4 mg once daily (n = 116).

Injection of CD40 DNA vaccine ameliorates the autoimmune pathology of non-obese diabetic mice with Sjögren's syndrome.

Background: Overexpression of CD40 has been reported in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). The increased CD40 expression promote autoimmune response and enhance inflammation in pSS. The aim of this study is to block CD40-CD154 interaction with CD40 DNA vaccine to slow the disease progression of SS in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice.

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody predicts the development of rheumatoid arthritis in patients with undifferentiated arthritis.

Background: Clinical outcomes of undifferentiated arthritis (UA) are diverse, and only 40% of patients with UA develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after 3 years. Discovering predictive markers at disease onset for further intervention is critical. Therefore, our objective was to analyze the clinical outcomes of UA and ascertain the predictors for RA development.

Changes of Treg/Th17 Ratio in Spleen of Acute Gouty Arthritis Rat Induced by MSU Crystals.

Acute gouty arthritis is the inflammation of joint tissues in the acute form due to the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and Th17 cells play an important role in the development and progression of inflammatory diseases. However, the expression and role of Tregs and Th17 cells are not clear in this disease.

Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cardiovascular (CV) risk in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is increased. In this study, we evaluated the differences in major markers of CV risk between patients with T1DM and healthy controls by a systematic review and meta-analysis. Literature from PubMed, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library comparing CV risk markers between patients with T1DM and controls was obtained.

MicroRNA-326 Upregulates B Cell Activity and Autoantibody Production in Lupus Disease of MRL/lpr Mice.

B cells are recognized as key participants in various autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although sets of transcription factors and cytokines are known to regulate B cell differentiation, the roles of microRNAs are poorly understood. Our previous study proved that microRNA-326 (miR-326) was markedly upregulated in SLE patients; however, the biological function of miR-326 during SLE pathogenesis remained unknown.

Features associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension in Chinese hospitalized systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an increasingly recognized complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aims to estimate the point prevalence of PAH and identify risk factors for PAH in a large cohort of hospitalized SLE patients. We have collected the medical records of patients hospitalized with SLE at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University and Anhui Provincial Hospital.

The association between ankylosing spondylitis and the risk of any, hip, or vertebral fracture: A meta-analysis.

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease and strongly associated with an increased risk of fractures. A great proportion of patients with AS are suffering from sustaining fractures and the aim of this study is to evaluate and quantify the association between the site of the fracture and AS by performing a meta-analysis.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed on Medline database from 1966 to August 15, 2016 and Embase database from 1980 to August 15, 2016.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with P2X7R function regulate the onset of gouty arthritis.

Background: Gout is an inflammatory disease that is caused by the increased production of Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) stimulated by monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. However, some hyperuricemia patients, even gouty patients with tophi in the joints, never experience gout attack, which indicates that pathogenic pathways other than MSU participate in the secretion of IL-1β in the pathogenesis of acute gouty arthritis. The ATP-P2X7R-IL-1β axis may be one of these pathways.

Circulating osteoprotegerin levels are elevated in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to systemically review the evidence regarding the relationship between the circulating blood osteoprotegerin (OPG) level and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as the potential influential factors. Research related to plasma/serum OPG levels in RA patients and healthy controls were gathered using PubMed, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library database (up to Jan. 1, 2017).

Increased Pulse Wave Velocity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Meta-Analysis.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. This study aims to derive a more precise estimation on pulse wave velocity (PWV) level in patients with SLE and related factors. A literature search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library databases, studies published up to February 28, 2017, in English.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α: a promising therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) plays a crucial role in both innate and adaptive immunity. Emerging evidence indicates that HIF-1α is associated with the inflammation and pathologic activities of autoimmune diseases. Areas covered: Considering that the types of autoimmune diseases are complicated and various, this review aims to cover the typical kinds of autoimmune diseases, discuss the molecular mechanisms, biological functions and expression of HIF-1α in these diseases, and further explore its therapeutic potential.

Unbalanced expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in peripheral blood CCR6CD4 and CD4CD25T cells of rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: The goal of this study was to analyze the role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in peripheral blood CCR6CD4 and CD4CD25T cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: Flow cytometry was applied to determine the proportion of AhR positive cells in CCR6CD4T, CD4CD25T and peripheral blood peripheral mononuclear cells from each subject. AhR mRNA and CYP1A1 mRNA relative expression levels were tested by real-time PCR.

Identification of long non-coding RNAs GAS5, linc0597 and lnc-DC in plasma as novel biomarkers for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Despite increasing evidence that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) widely take part in human diseases, the role of lncRNAs in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is largely unknown. In this study, we performed a two-stage study to explore the plasma levels of five lncRNAs (GAS5, linc0949, linc0597, HOTAIRM1 and lnc-DC) and their potential as SLE biomarkers. Compared with healthy controls, plasma levels of GAS5 and lnc-DC were significantly decreased (P < 0.

Genetic association of aromatic hydrocarbon receptor and its repressor gene polymorphisms with risk of rheumatoid arthritis in Han Chinese populations.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential relationship among polymorphisms of aromatic hydrocarbon receptor, aromatic hydrocarbon receptor repressor, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility as well as the association among the polymorphisms of aromatic hydrocarbon receptor, aromatic hydrocarbon receptor repressor, and their expression.We performed a hospital-based, case-control study of 400 patients with RA and 726 healthy controls in Han Chinese populations. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms were selected for genotyping including aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (rs2066853) and aromatic hydrocarbon receptor repressor (rs2292596).

Association of leptin and leptin receptor gene polymorphisms with systemic lupus erythematosus in a Chinese population.

To explore the association of LEP and leptin receptor (LEPR) gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a Chinese population. Four LEP SNPs (rs11761556, rs12706832, rs2071045 and rs2167270) and nine LEPR SNPs (rs10749754, rs1137100, rs1137101, rs13306519, rs8179183, rs1805096, rs3790434, rs3806318 and rs7518632) were genotyped in a cohort of 633 patients with SLE and 559 healthy controls. Genotyping of SNPs was performed with improved multiple ligase detection reaction (iMLDR).

Ultraviolet B decreases DNA methylation level of CD4+ T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: In the present study, DNA methylation level of CD4+ T cells exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) was investigated and its potential mechanisms were also explored.

Methods: CD4+ T cells from 12 cases of healthy subjects and 33 cases of SLE patients were isolated and exposed to different dosages (0, 50, 100 mJ/cm) of UVB. Further, SLE patients were divided into two groups: active SLE group (22 cases, SLEDAI scores >4) and inactive SLE group (11 cases, SLEDAI scores ≤4).

Foxp3, Regulatory T Cell, and Autoimmune Diseases.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) represent a cell type that promotes immune tolerance to autologous components and maintains immune system homeostasis. The abnormal function of Tregs is relevant to the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and other autoimmune diseases. Therefore, therapeutic modulation of Tregs could be a potent means of treating autoimmune diseases.

Interleukin-35: a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Autoimmune Diseases.

Autoimmune diseases contain a large number of pathologies characterized by various factors that contribute to a breakdown in self-tolerance. Cytokine-mediated immunity plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of varieties of autoimmune diseases. Recent studies reveal that interleukin-35 (IL-35), a newly identified cytokine of IL-12 family, is implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc), etc.

Evidence of epistatic interaction between DPP4 and CCR6 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: A recent genome-wide association study identified that genetic variants in DPP4 and CCR6 are connected with a risk of RA in the Han Chinese population. The aim of this study was to estimate the epistatic interaction between DPP4 and CCR6 in RA.

Methods: Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms identified in a Han Chinese genome-wide association study (rs12617656 in DPP4, rs1854853 in CCR6) were genotyped.

Plasma levels of adipokines in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Objective: To evaluate the plasma levels of six adipokines, including chemerin, omentin-1, lipocalin-2, cathepsin-S, cathepsin-L and adipsin, in patients with SLE.

Methods: Ninety SLE patients and ninety control subjects were recruited, plasma adipokines levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and their associations with major clinical and laboratory indexes were analyzed.

Results: There were no significant differences in plasma chemerin, omentin-1, lipocalin-2, cathepsin-S, cathepsin-L and adipsin levels between SLE patients and controls.