| 1. |
- Abate, Michele, et al.
(författare)
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Pathogenesis of tendinopathies: inflammation or degeneration?
- 2009
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Ingår i: Arthritis research & therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6362 .- 1478-6354. ; 11:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The intrinsic pathogenetic mechanisms of tendinopathies are largely unknown and whether inflammation or degeneration has the prominent role is still a matter of debate. Assuming that there is a continuum from physiology to pathology, overuse may be considered as the initial disease factor; in this context, microruptures of tendon fibers occur and several molecules are expressed, some of which promote the healing process, while others, including inflammatory cytokines, act as disease mediators. Neural in-growth that accompanies the neovessels explains the occurrence of pain and triggers neurogenic-mediated inflammation. It is conceivable that inflammation and degeneration are not mutually exclusive, but work together in the pathogenesis of tendinopathies.
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| 2. |
- af Klint, Erik, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of arthroscopy and macroscopic scoring.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Arthritis Research & Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6362 .- 1478-6354. ; 11:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive technique for retrieving synovial biopsies in rheumatology during the past 20 years. Vital for its use is continual evaluation of its safety and efficacy. Important for sampling is the fact of intraarticular variation for synovial markers. For microscopic measurements scoring systems have been developed and validated, but for macroscopic evaluations there is a need for further comprehensive description and validation of equivalent scoring systems.METHODS: We studied the complication rate and yield of arthroscopies performed at our clinic between 1998 and 2005. We also created and evaluated a macroscopic score set of instructions for synovitis.RESULTS: Of 408 procedures, we had two major and one minor complication; two haemarthrosis and one wound infection, respectively. Pain was most often not a problem, but 12 procedures had to be prematurely ended due to pain. Yield of biopsies adequate for histology were 83% over all, 94% for knee joints and 34% for smaller joints. Video printer photographs of synovium taken during arthroscopy were jointly and individually reviewed by seven raters in several settings, and intra and inter rater variation was calculated. A macroscopic synovial scoring system for arthroscopy was created (Macro-score), based upon hypertrophy, vascularity and global synovitis. These written instructions were evaluated by five control-raters, and when evaluated individual parameters were without greater intra or inter rater variability, indicating that the score is reliable and easy to use.CONCLUSIONS: In our hands rheumatologic arthroscopy is a safe method with very few complications. For knee joints it is a reliable method to retrieve representative tissue in clinical longitudinal studies. We also created an easy to use macroscopic score, that needs to be validated against other methodologies. We hope it will be of value in further developing international standards in this area.
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| 3. |
- Ahlqvist, Emma, et al.
(författare)
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The value of animal models in predicting genetic susceptibility to complex diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Arthritis Research and Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6362 .- 1478-6354. ; 11:3
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- ABSTRACT: For a long time, genetic studies of complex diseases were most successfully conducted in animal models. However, the field of genetics is now rapidly evolving, and human genetics has also started to produce strong candidate genes for complex diseases. This raises the question of how to continue gene-finding attempts in animals and how to use animal models to enhance our understanding of gene function. In this review we summarize the uses and advantages of animal studies in identification of disease susceptibility genes, focusing on rheumatoid arthritis. We are convinced that animal genetics will remain a valuable tool for the identification and investigation of pathways that lead to disease, well into the future.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Ajeganova, Sofia, et al.
(författare)
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Higher levels of anti-phosphorylcholine autoantibodies in early rheumatoid arthritis indicate lower risk of incident cardiovascular events
- 2021
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Ingår i: Arthritis Research and Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6354 .- 1478-6362. ; 23:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The increased risk of cardiovascular events (CVE) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not fully explained by traditional risk factors. Immuno-inflammatory mechanisms and autoantibodies could be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic disease. It has been suggested that anti-phosphorylcholine antibodies (anti-PC) of the IgM subclass may have atheroprotective effects. Here, we aimed to investigate the association between levels of IgM anti-PC antibodies with CVE in patients with early RA. Methods: The study population was derived from the BARFOT early RA cohort, recruited in 1994–1999. The outcome of incident CVE (AMI, angina pectoris, coronary intervention, ischemic stroke, TIA) was tracked through the Swedish Hospital Discharge and the National Cause of Death Registries. Sera collected at inclusion and the 2-year visit were analyzed with ELISA to determine levels of anti-PC IgM. The Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to compare CV outcome in the groups categorized by baseline median level of IgM anti-PC. Results: In all, 653 patients with early RA, 68% women, mean (SD) age 54.8 (14.7) years, DAS28 5.2 (1.3), 68% seropositive, and without prevalent CVD, were included. During the follow-up of mean 11.7 years, 141 incident CVE were recorded. Baseline IgM anti-PC above median was associated with a reduction in risk of incident CVE in patients aged below 55 years at inclusion, HR 0.360 (95% CI, 0.142–0.916); in males, HR 0.558 (0.325–0.958); in patients with BMI above 30 kg/m2, HR 0.235 (0.065–0.842); and in those who did not achieve DAS28 remission at 1 year, HR 0.592 (0.379–0.924). The pattern of associations was confirmed in the models with AUC IgM anti-PC over 2 years. Conclusion: Protective effects of higher levels of innate IgM anti-PC autoantibodies on CVE were detected in younger patients with RA and those at high risk of CVE: males, presence of obesity, and non-remission at 1 year.
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| 6. |
- Aldridge, Jonathan, et al.
(författare)
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Sex-based differences in association between circulating T cell subsets and disease activity in untreated early rheumatoid arthritis patients
- 2018
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Ingår i: Arthritis Research & Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6354 .- 1478-6362. ; 20:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: It is not known if sex-based disparities in immunological factors contribute to the disease process in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Hence, we examined whether circulating T cell subset proportions and their association with disease activity differed in male and female patients with untreated early rheumatoid arthritis (ueRA). Methods: Proportions of T cell subsets were analyzed in peripheral blood from 72 ueRA DMARD-and corticosteroid-naive patients (50 females and 22 males) and in 31 healthy age-and sex-matched controls. Broad analysis of helper and regulatory CD4(+) T cell subsets was done using flow cytometry. Disease activity in patients was assessed using DAS28, CDAI, swollen joint counts, tender joint counts, CRP, and ESR. Results: Multivariate factor analyses showed that male and female ueRA patients display distinct profiles of association between disease activity and circulating T cell subset proportions. In male, but not female, ueRA patients Th2 cells showed a positive association with disease activity and correlated significantly with DAS28-ESR, CDAI, and swollen and tender joint counts. Likewise, proportions of non-regulatory CTLA-4(+) T cells associated positively with disease activity in male patients only, and correlated with DAS28-ESR. In contrast, there was a negative relation between Th1Th17 subset proportions and disease activity in males only. The proportions of Th17 cells correlated positively with DAS28-ESR in males only, while proportions of Th1 cells showed no relation to disease activity in either sex. There were no significant differences in proportions of T cell subsets between the sexes in patients with ueRA. Conclusions: Our findings show sex-based differences in the association between T cell subsets and disease activity in ueRA patients, and that Th2 helper T cells may have a role in regulating disease activity in male patients.
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| 7. |
- Aldridge, Jonathan, et al.
(författare)
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T helper cells in synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis primarily have a Th1 and a CXCR3(+)Th2 phenotype
- 2020
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Ingår i: Arthritis Research & Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6354 .- 1478-6362. ; 22:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background The majority of CD4(+)T helper (Th) cells found in the synovial fluid (SF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) express CXCR3, a receptor associated with Th1 cells. In blood, subsets of Th2 and Th17 cells also express CXCR3, but it is unknown if these cells are present in RA SF or how cytokines from these subsets affect cytokine/chemokine secretion by fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from patients with RA. Methods We examined the proportions of Th1, Th2, CXCR3(+)Th2, Th17, CXCR3(+)Th17, Th1Th17, peripheral T helper (TPh) and T follicular helper (TFh) cells in paired SF and blood, as well as the phenotype of TPh and TFh cells in RA SF (n = 8), by the use of flow cytometry. We also examined the cytokine/chemokine profile in paired SF and plasma (n = 8) and in culture supernatants of FLS from patients with chronic RA (n = 7) stimulated with Th-associated cytokines, by the use of cytometric bead arrays and ELISA. Cytokine receptor expression in FLS (n = 3) were assessed by the use of RNA sequencing and qPCR. Results The proportions of Th1 and CXCR3(+)Th2 cells were higher in SF than in blood (P < 0.05). TPh and PD-1(high)TFh in RA SF were primarily of a Th1 and a CXCR3(+)Th2 phenotype. Moreover, the levels of CXCL9, CXCL10, CCL20, CCL2, CXCL8, IL-6 and IL-10 were higher in SF than in plasma (P < 0.05). Lastly, IL-4, IL-13 and IL-17A induced RA FLS to secrete proinflammatory IL-6, CCL2, CXCL1 and CXCL8, while IFN gamma mainly induced CXCL10. Conclusion These findings indicate that not only Th1 but also CXCR3(+)Th2 cells may have a pathogenic role in RA synovial inflammation.
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| 8. |
- Almehed, Katarina, 1966, et al.
(författare)
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Prevalence and risk factors of vertebral compression fractures in female SLE patients.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Arthritis research & therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6362 .- 1478-6354. ; 12:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to determine the frequency of and factors associated with prevalent vertebral compression fractures in female SLE patients attending rheumatologists in Western Sweden. METHODS: In this cross sectional study 150 women were included. They were examined with x-ray of thoracic and lumbar spine (Th4-L4). A reduction of at least 20% of any vertebral height, assessed by Genant's semiquantitative method, was defined as a fracture. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). RESULTS: Median patient age was 47 years (20-82) and disease duration 11 years (1-41). Only 6 (4%) women had a history of clinical compressions whereas 43 (29%) had at least one radiological fracture each. The patients with at least one fracture at any site were characterized by higher age (p<0.001), being postmenopausal (p<0.01), higher Systemic Lupus International Collaborative Clinics Damage Index (p<0.05), lower BMD total hip and femoral neck (p<0.05), more peripheral fractures (p< 0.01), medication with bisphosphonates (p<0.05) and calcium and vitamin D3 (p<0.05). There were no significant differences regarding current or cumulative glucocorticosteroid dose between the groups. In logistic regression analyses high age remained as risk factor of at least one vertebral fracture at any site whereas low BMD in total hip was associated with vertebral fracture in lumbar spine. CONCLUSION: Radiological compression fractures are common but seldom diagnosed in SLE patients. High age and low BMD in total hip, but not in spine, was associated with vertebral fractures.
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| 9. |
- Almehed, Katarina, 1966, et al.
(författare)
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Role of resistin as a marker of inflammation in systemic lupus erythematosus.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Arthritis research & therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6362 .- 1478-6354. ; 10:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Resistin is a cystein-rich secretory adipokine. It is proposed to have proinflammatory properties in humans. The aim of this study was to determine associations between serum levels of resistin and markers of inflammation and bone mineral density (BMD) in female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: One hundred sixty-three female patients with SLE (20 to 82 years old) were examined in a cross-sectional study. Venous blood samples were analyzed for resistin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein, creatinine, fasting lipids, complements, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, sIL-6R (soluble IL-6 receptor), ICTP (C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen), and PINP (N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen). Simple and multiple regression analyses as well as logistic regression analyses were performed. Resistin in serum was compared with 42 healthy female controls with respect to age. RESULTS: Serum resistin levels in controls were similar to those of patients with SLE. Markers of inflammation and current dose of glucocorticosteroids correlated positively to resistin in serum. Markers of renal function, number of prevalent vertebral fractures, and BMD were also significantly associated with resistin. In a multiple regression model, ESR, creatinine, C3, current glucocorticosteroid dose, high-density lipoprotein, and BMD radius remained significantly associated with resistin. In logistic regression analyses with resistin as the independent variable, a significant association was found with ESR (normal or elevated) but not with S-creatinine or z score for hip and radius total. CONCLUSION: Although resistin measurements did not differ between patients and controls, resistin was clearly associated with general inflammation, renal disease, treatment with glucocorticosteroids, and bone loss. We hypothesize that resistin has proinflammatory and disease-promoting properties in SLE. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism behind these associations.
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| 10. |
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