| 1. |
- Brisslert, Mikael, 1974, et al.
(författare)
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Epstein-Barr virus infection transforms CD25(+) B cells into antibody-secreting cells in rheumatoid arthritis patients
- 2013
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Ingår i: Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0019-2805. ; 140:4, s. 421-429
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection may initiate production of autoantibodies and development of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Here we outline phenotypic and functional changes in B cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) related to EBV infection. The B-cell phenotype was analysed in blood and bone marrow (BM) of RA patients who had EBV transcripts in BM (EBV+, n=13) and in EBV- (n=22) patients with RA. The functional effect of EBV was studied in the sorted CD25(+) and CD25(-) peripheral B cells of RA patients (n=18) and healthy controls (n=9). Rituximab treatment results in enrichment of CD25(+) B cells in peripheral blood (PB) of EBV+ RA patients. The CD25(+) B-cell subset displayed a more mature phenotype accumulating IgG-expressing cells. It was also enriched with CD27(+) and CD95(+) cells in PB and BM. EBV stimulation of the sorted CD25(+) B cells in vitro induced a polyclonal IgG and IgM secretion in RA patients, while CD25(+) B cells of healthy subjects did not respond to EBV stimulation. CD25(+) B cells were enriched in PB and synovial fluid of RA patients. EBV infection affects the B-cell phenotype in RA patients by increasing the CD25(+) subset and by inducing their immunoglobulin production. These findings clearly link CD25(+) B cells to the EBV-dependent sequence of reactions in the pathogenesis of RA.
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| 2. |
- Rehnberg, Maria, 1984, et al.
(författare)
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Vaccination response to protein and carbohydrate antigens in patients with rheumatoid arthritis after rituximab treatment.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Arthritis research & therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6362 .- 1478-6354. ; 12:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is frequently complicated with infections. The aim of our study was to evaluate vaccination response in patients with RA after B-cell depletion by using rituximab. METHODS: Influenza (Afluria) and pneumococcal polysaccharides (Pneumo23) vaccines were given 6 months after rituximab (post-RTX group, n=11) or 6 days before rituximab treatment (pre-RTX group; n=8). RA patients never exposed to RTX composed the control group (n=10). Vaccine-specific cellular responses were evaluated on day 6 after vaccination, and vaccine-specific humoral responses, on day 21. RESULTS: On day 6 after vaccination, formation of influenza-specific B cells was lower in post-RTX group as compared with the pre-RTX group and controls (P=0.04). Polysaccharide-specific B cells were found in 27% to 50%, being equally distributed between the groups. On day 21, the impairment of humoral responses was more pronounced with respect to influenza as compared with the pneumococcal vaccine and affected both IgG and light-chain production. Total absence of influenza-specific IgG production was observed in 55% of the post-RTX group. CONCLUSIONS: RTX compromises cellular and humoral vaccine responses in RA patients. However, repeated RTX treatment or previous anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) treatment did not accentuate these defects.
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| 3. |
- Andersson, Sofia E M, 1979, et al.
(författare)
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Activation of Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 signaling enhances survivin expression in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis.
- 2012
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Ingår i: PloS one. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 7:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Survivin is known as an inhibitor of apoptosis and a positive regulator of cell division. We have recently identified survivin as a predictor of joint destruction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Flt3 ligand (Flt3L) is expressed in the inflamed joints and has adjuvant properties in arthritis. Studies on 90 RA patients (median age 60.5 years [range, 24-87], disease duration 10.5 years [range, 0-35]) show a strong positive association between the levels of survivin and Flt3L in blood. Here, we present experimental evidence connecting survivin and Flt3L signaling. Treatment of BALB/c mice with Flt3L led to an increase of survivin in the bone marrow and in splenic dendritic cells. Flt3L changed the profile of survivin splice variants, increasing transcription of the short survivin40 in the bone marrow. Treatment with an Flt3 inhibitor reduced total survivin expression in bone marrow and in the dendritic cell population in spleen. Inhibition of survivin transcription in mice, by shRNA lentiviral constructs, reduced the gene expression of Flt3L. We conclude that expression of survivin is a downstream event of Flt3 signaling, which serves as an essential mechanism supporting survival of leukocytes during their differentiation, and maturation of dendritic cells, in RA.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Bjersing, Jan, 1966, et al.
(författare)
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Changes in pain and insulin-like growth factor 1 in fibromyalgia during exercise: the involvement of cerebrospinal inflammatory factors and neuropeptides
- 2012
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Ingår i: Arthritis Research & Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6354. ; 14:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abstract Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by chronic pain. Impaired growth hormone responses and reduced serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) are common in FM. The aim was to examine changes in serum IGF-1, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), neuropeptides, and cytokines during aerobic exercise in FM patients. Methods: In total, 49 patients (median age, 52 years) with FM were included in the study. They were randomized to either the moderate- to high-intensity Nordic Walking (NW) program (n = 26) or the supervised low-intensity walking (LIW) program (n = 23). Patients participated in blood tests before and after 15 weeks of aerobic exercise. Changes in serum levels of free IGF-1, pain rating on a 0- to 100-mm scale, pain threshold, and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) were examined. CSF, neuropeptides, matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3), and inflammatory cytokines were determined. Nonparametric tests were used for group comparisons and correlation analyses. Results: Serum free IGF-1 levels did not change during 15 weeks of exercise between the two groups, although the 6MWT significantly improved in the NW group (p = 0.033) when compared with LIW. Pain did not significantly change in any of the groups, but tended to decrease (p = 0.052) over time in the total group. A tendency toward a correlation was noted between baseline IGF-1 and a decrease of pain in response to exercise (r = 0.278; p = 0.059). When adjusted for age, this tendency disappeared. The change in serum free IGF-1 correlated positively with an alteration in CSF substance P (SP) levels (rs = 0.495; p = 0.072), neuropeptide Y (NPY) (rs = 0.802; p = 0.001), and pain threshold (rs = 0.276; p = 0.058). Differing CSF SP levels correlated positively to a change in pain threshold (rs = 0.600; p = 0.023), whereas the shift in CSF MMP-3 inversely correlated with an altered pain threshold (rs = -0.569; p = 0.034). Conclusions: The baseline level of serum free IGF-1 did not change during high or low intensity of aerobic exercise. Changes in IGF-1 correlated positively with a variation in CSF SP, NPY, and pain threshold. These data indicate a beneficial role of IGF-1 during exercise in FM. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.govNCT00643006.
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| 6. |
- Bjersing, Jan, 1966, et al.
(författare)
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Exercise and obesity in fibromyalgia: beneficial roles of IGF-1 and resistin?
- 2013
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Ingår i: Arthritis Research & Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6362 .- 1478-6354. ; 15:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abstract Introduction: Severe fatigue is a major health problem in fibromyalgia (FM). Obesity is common in FM, but the influence of adipokines and growth factors is not clear. The aim was to examine effects of exercise on fatigue, in lean, overweight and obese FM patients. Methods: In a longitudinal study, 48 FM patients (median 52 years) exercised for 15 weeks. Nine patients were lean (body mass index, BMI 18.5 to 24.9), 26 overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9) and 13 obese. Fatigue was rated on a 0 to 100 mm scale (fibromyalgia impact questionnaire [FIQ] fatigue) and multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) general fatigue (MFIGF). Higher levels in FIQ fatigue and MFIGF indicate greater degree of fatigue. Free and total IGF-1, neuropeptides, adipokines were determined in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Results: Baseline FIQ fatigue correlated negatively with serum leptin (r = -0.345; P = 0.016) and nerve growth factor (NGF; r = -0.412; P = 0.037). In lean patients, baseline MFIGF associated negatively with serum resistin (r = -0.694; P = 0.038). FIQ Fatigue associated negatively with CSF resistin (r = -0.365; P = 0.073). Similarly, FIQ fatigue (r = -0.444; P = 0.026) and MFIGF correlated negatively with CSF adiponectin (r = -0.508; P = 0.01). In lean patients, FIQ fatigue (P = 0.046) decreased after 15 weeks. After 30 weeks, MFIGF decreased significantly in lean (MFIGF: P = 0.017), overweight (MFIGF: P = 0.001), and obese patients (MFIGF: P = 0.016). After 15 weeks, total IGF-1 increased in lean ( P = 0.043) patients. Δ Total IGF-1 differed significantly between lean and obese patients ( P =0.010). Δ Total IGF-1 related negatively with Δ MFIGF after 15 weeks (r = -0.329; P = 0.050). After 30 weeks, Δ FIQ fatigue negatively correlated with Δ NGF (r = -0.463; P = 0.034) and positively with Δ neuropeptide Y (NPY) (r = 0.469; P = 0.032). Resistin increased after 30 weeks ( P = 0.034). Δ MFIGF correlated negatively with Δ resistin (r = -0.346; P = 0.031), being strongest in obese patients (r = -0.815; P = 0.007). In obese patients, Δ FIQ fatigue after 30 weeks correlated negatively with Δ free IGF-1 (r = -0.711; P =0.032). Conclusions: Exercise reduced fatigue in all FM patients, this effect was achieved earlier in lean patients. Baseline levels of resistin in both serum and CSF associated negatively with fatigue. Resistin was increased after the exercise period which correlated with decreased fatigue. Changes in IGF-1 indicate similar long-term effects in obese patients. This study shows reduced fatigue after moderate exercise in FM and indicates the involvement of IGF-1 and resistin in these beneficial effects. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00643006
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| 7. |
- Bjersing, Jan, 1966, et al.
(författare)
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Profile of Cerebrospinal microRNAs in Fibromyalgia
- 2013
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Ingår i: Plos One. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 8:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by chronic pain and reduced pain threshold. The pathophysiology involves disturbed neuroendocrine function, including impaired function of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 axis. Recently, microRNAs have been shown to be important regulatory factors in a number of diseases. The aim of this study was to try to identify cerebrospinal microRNAs with expression specific for FM and to determine their correlation to pain and fatigue. Methods: The genome-wide profile of microRNAs in cerebrospinal fluid was assessed in ten women with FM and eight healthy controls using real-time quantitative PCR. Pain thresholds were examined by algometry. Levels of pain (FIQ pain) were rated on a 0-100 mm scale (fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, FIQ). Levels of fatigue (FIQ fatigue) were rated on a 0-100 mm scale using FIQ and by multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) general fatigue (MFIGF). Results: Expression levels of nine microRNAs were significantly lower in patients with FM patients compared to healthy controls. The microRNAs identified were miR-21-5p, miR-145-5p, miR-29a-3p, miR-99b-5p, miR-125b-5p, miR-23a-3p, 23b-3p, miR-195-5p, miR-223-3p. The identified microRNAs with significantly lower expression in FM were assessed with regard to pain and fatigue. miR-145-5p correlated positively with FIQ pain (r=0.709, p=0.022, n=10) and with FIQ fatigue (r=0.687, p=0.028, n=10). Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to show a disease-specific pattern of cerebrospinal microRNAs in FM. We have identified nine microRNAs in cerebrospinal fluid that differed between FM patients and healthy controls. One of the identified microRNAs, miR-145 was associated with the cardinal symptoms of FM, pain and fatigue.
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| 8. |
- Bokarewa, Maria, 1963, et al.
(författare)
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Smoking is associated with reduced leptin and neuropeptide Y levels and higher pain experience in patients with fibromyalgia.
- 2014
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Ingår i: Mediators of inflammation. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1466-1861 .- 0962-9351. ; 2014
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Smoking deregulates neuroendocrine responses to pain supporting production of neuropeptide Y (NpY) by direct stimulation of nicotinic receptors or by inhibiting adipokine leptin. Present study addressed the effect of cigarette smoking on adipokines and pain parameters, in 62 women with fibromyalgia (FM) pain syndrome with unknown etiology. Pain was characterized by a visual analogue scale, tender point (TP) counts, pressure pain threshold, and neuroendocrine markers NpY and substance P (sP). Levels of IGF-1, leptin, resistin, visfatin, and adiponectin were measured in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Current smokers (n = 18) had lower levels of leptin compared to ex-smokers (n = 25, P = 0.002), while the expected NpY increase was absent in FM patients. In smokers, this was transcribed in higher VAS-pain (P = 0.04) and TP count (P = 0.03), lower pain threshold (P = 0.01), since NpY levels were directly related to the pain threshold (rho = 0.414) and inversely related to TP counts (rho = -0.375). This study shows that patients with FM have no increase of NpY levels in response to smoking despite the low levels of leptin. Deregulation of the balance between leptin and neuropeptide Y may be one of the essential mechanisms of chronic pain in FM.
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| 9. |
- Bokarewa, Maria, 1963, et al.
(författare)
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Survivin but not Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand is up-regulated before the onset of rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot study.
- 2014
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Ingår i: Arthritis research & therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6362 .- 1478-6354. ; 16:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Antibodies against citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) and increased levels of cytokines precede the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by several years. Recently, the proteins survivin and Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L) have been identified as biomarkers of RA associated with joint destruction. Our objective was to investigate the potential of survivin and Flt3L as predictors of RA in samples from patients prior to onset of symptoms.
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| 10. |
- Boström, Elisabeth Almer, 1983, et al.
(författare)
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Resistin and insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling in rheumatoid arthritis.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Arthritis and rheumatism. - : Wiley. - 1529-0131 .- 0004-3591. ; 63:10, s. 2894-904
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Human resistin has proinflammatory properties that activate NF-κB-dependent pathways, whereas its murine counterpart is associated with insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to examine potential cross-talk between resistin and insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
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