Genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in monocytes derived from patients with primary Sjogren syndrome.

Background: Epigenetics, especially DNA methylation, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS). Our study aimed to reveal the role of DNA methylation in peripheral monocytes of pSS patients.

Methods: A total of 11 pSS patients and five age-matched healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study.

Distinctive Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of ILD-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis and ACPA-Positive ILD: a Longitudinal Cohort of 282 Cases.

The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical features and outcome of interstitial lung disease (ILD)-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-positive ILD-only patients. Arthritis-onset and ILD-onset RA-ILD and ACPA-positive ILD-only patients consecutively admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2008 to December 2017 were enrolled and followed-up. Their demographic, clinical, and laboratory features as well as outcome were collected and analyzed.

Antagonizing miR-7 suppresses B cell hyperresponsiveness and inhibits lupus development.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to address the biological function of miR-7 in an animal model of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Methods: MRL lupus mice were administrated antagomiR-7 or a scramble control by tail vein for 5weeks. Three groups of animals' tissues were assessed for lupus manifestations by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, and serum was examined for levels of autoantibodies and inflammatory cytokines.

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).

Metagenomic profiling of the pro-inflammatory gut microbiota in ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: Gut dysbiosis has been reported implicated in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a common chronic inflammatory disease mainly affects sacroiliac joints and spine. Utilizing deep sequencing on the feces of untreated AS patients, our study aimed at providing an in-depth understanding of AS gut microbiota.

Methods: We analyzed the fecal metagenome of 85 untreated AS patients and 62 healthy controls by metagenomic shotgun sequencing, and 23 post-treatment feces of those AS patients were collected for comparison.

Complement C1q synergizes with PTX3 in promoting NLRP3 inflammasome over-activation and pyroptosis in rheumatoid arthritis.

Excessive inflammatory cytokines play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that pentaxin 3 (PTX3), an essential component of innate immunity, was elevated in RA and preferentially bound to CD14 monocytes. C1q promoted the binding and resulted in increased cell proliferation, activation and caspase-1-related late apoptotic cells (7-AADannexin V), as well as enhanced release of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6.

The efficacy and safety of antithrombotic therapy in patients with positive antiphospholipid antibodies receiving invasive procedures: experience from a single tertiary center.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of antithrombotic prophylaxis and to explore potential risk factors for thrombotic/bleeding events in patients with positive antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies receiving invasive procedures.

Method: All aPL-positive patients who underwent invasive procedures in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, from January 2002 to April 2018, were retrospectively enrolled. Demographic features, clinical features, antiphospholipid antibody profiles, types of invasive procedures, and antithrombotic management, as well as complications and outcomes, were systematically reviewed and recorded.

Serum Albumin at Start of Peritoneal Dialysis Predicts Long-Term Outcomes in Anhui Han Patients on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: This study assessed the relationship between serum albumin (ALB) at start of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and long-term outcomes of continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD) in Anhui Han patients.

Methods: A total of 149 Anhui Han CAPD patients were enrolled in this study and followed up for 3 years. They were initially diagnosed with the end-stage renal disease and underwent surgical PD catheter placement from January 2009 to December 2013.

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.

Exploring pathogenesis of primary biliary cholangitis by proteomics: A pilot study.

Aim: To explore the pathogenesis of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) by identifying candidate autoantibodies in serum samples by proteomics and bioinformatics.

Methods: Nine antimitochondrial antibody (AMA)-positive PBC patients and nine age- and sex-matched AMA-negative PBC patients were recruited. Antigen enrichment technology was applied to capture autoantigens of human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells (HiBECs) that are recognized by autoantibodies from the sera of PBC patients.

CD8 T cells and IFN-γ induce autoimmune myelofibrosis in mice.

Myelofibrosis usually occurs either as a part of a myelodysplastic syndrome or in conjunction with neoplasia. It is not commonly thought of an autoimmune disease. We reported that p40IL-2Rα (interleukin-12p40 and interleukin-2 receptor alpha double knockout) mice, a mouse model of human primary biliary cholangitis, exhibited features consistent with autoimmune myelofibrosis, including anemia associated with bone marrow fibrosis, and extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) including LSK (Lineagec-KitSca-1) cells in spleen, liver and peripheral blood.

Chemotaxis of Vδ2 T cells to the joints contributes to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To explore the role of Vδ2 T cells in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Sixty-eight patients with RA, 21 patients with osteoarthritis and 21 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. All patients with RA fulfilled the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria for RA.

Comparison of efficacy and tolerability of azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, and cyclophosphamide among patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: A prospective cohort study.

Aims: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of azathioprine (AZA), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and cyclophosphamide (CTX) in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

Methods: We performed a prospective cohort analysis of relapses, disability, and adverse events in NMOSD patients treated with AZA, MMF, or CTX (n=119, 38, and 41, respectively). All the patients were co-treated with oral prednisone.

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.

Types of Organ Involvement in Patients with Immunoglobulin G4-related Disease.

Background: Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a newly recognized systemic disease that can involve multiple organs and various clinical phenotypes. The purpose of this study was to analyze different types of organ involvement in IgG4-RD patients in China.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study on IgG4-RD patients to analyze the clinical manifestations and rare features of IgG4-RD.

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.

The characteristics of patients having ankylosing spondylitis associated with Takayasu's arteritis.

Both ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and Takayasu's arteritis (TA) are infrequent, and their association is even more rare. Our objective was to assess their association and characteristics in our patients. We conducted retrospective analysis of our hospital inpatients from June 2000 to July 2011 who had both AS and TA.

[Importance of salivary gland focus score in the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome].

Objective: To explore the correlation between labial salivary gland focus score (FS) and severity of Sjögren's syndrome patients.

Methods: From January 2009 to December 2010, a total of 77 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome were recruited to undergo minor salivary gland biopsy, Schirmer's test, unstimulated whole salivary flow, organ function and serological test. Focus score was calculated for all biopsy samples.

Early biochemical response to ursodeoxycholic acid and long-term prognosis of primary biliary cirrhosis: results of a 14-year cohort study.

Unlabelled: The biochemical response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in primary biliary cirrhosis is a strong predictor of long-term outcome and thus facilitates the rapid identification of patients needing new therapeutic approaches. Numerous criteria for predicting outcome of treatment have been studied based on biochemical response to UDCA at 1 year. We sought to determine whether an earlier biochemical response at 3 or 6 months could as efficiently identify patients at risk of poor outcome, as defined by liver-related death, liver transplantation, and complications of cirrhosis.