Frequency of serological markers of rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients with active celiac disease

BACKGROUND

Celiac disease (CD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are multisystem autoimmune diseases affecting 1% of general populationa. Both diseases share genetic and immunological features.

AIM

In this retrospective study, we aim to determine the frequency of auto-antibodies of RA in adult patients with CD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy seven adult patients with active CD were included in the present study. Ninety healthy blood donors (HBD) served as control group. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides antibodies (CCP-Ab) and rheumatoid factors (RF; IgA, IgG and IgM) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for patients and control group. For statistical analysis, we used Chi-square or Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

Our study included 77 adult patients with active celiac disease (57 female, 20 male). Twenty-four (31.2%) active celiac patients and 7 (7.8%) blood donors had CCP-Ab or RF (31.2% vs 7.8%, p < 10-4). Only two patients (2.6%) had both CCP-Ab and RF. IgA was the predominant isotype of RF in celiac patients (n = 18; 23.4%) while none of healthy blood donors had RF-IgA (23.4% vs 0.0%, p < 10-4).

CONCLUSION

The current study has shown that CD is associated with a high frequency of RF-IgA suggesting that celiac patients could be at a higher risk of developing RA.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Susceptibility Is Associated with the KIR2DS4-Full of Killer-Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor Genes in the Lur Population of Iran

Background

The pathophysiology underlying the progression and development of autoimmune conditions, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), is a result of dysregulations of the immune system. Research has explored the genetic alterations present in RA; however, limited studies have examined the role of Killer cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIR) and Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules in RA. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine KIR genes, their HLA ligands, and KIR-HLA compounds in patients with RA.

Methods

In this case-control study, a total of 50 patients with RA and 100 healthy individuals were enrolled. DNA samples were evaluated using PCR with sequence specific Primers (PCR-SSP). Odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported.

Results

Among the KIR genes examined, KIR2DLA (p= 0.0255, OR= 0.389, 95% CI= 0.210-0.722) and KIR2DS4-full (p< 0.0001, OR= 6.163, 95% CI= 3.174-11.968) were observed to have a statistically significant correlation with disease susceptibility to RA. As an inhibitory gene, KIR2DLA was observed to have a protective effect against RA while KIR2DS4-full as an activating gene, was found to increase risk for RA. No significant associations were found between any of the other KIR genotypes, HLA ligands, or KIR-HLA compounds examined in this study to RA susceptibility.

Conclusion

In this study of RA in the Lur population of Iran, KIR2DS4-full was observed to increase susceptibility to RA, while KIR2DL5A was found to act as a protecting factor based on both the cross Table and regression analyses. Further research should focus on repeating this study in additional populations.

rs2476601 in PTPN22 gene in rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis-a possible interface?

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis (PD) are proven to share common risk markers, including genetic factors. In the present study we focused on genetic variants in PTPN22 (rs2476601), PADI4 (rs2240340), CTLA4 genes (rs3087243) and its impact on RA and PD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the study 111 RA patients and 256 systemically healthy controls were involved. A subdivision of patients and controls was carried out according the severity of periodontitis (no/level 1 PD vs. level 2 PD).

RESULTS

I. Evaluating the genetic impact on the occurrence of RA the T allele of rs2476601 (PTPN22) (bivariate: p < 0.001; multivariate: p = 0.018) and T allele of rs2240340 (PADI4) (bivariate: p = 0.006; multivariate: p = 0.070) were associated with an increased vulnerability to RA. II. Investigating the genetic influence on level 2 PD the T allele of rs2476601 (PTPN22) was shown to be associated with a higher susceptibility to PD within the RA group (bivariate: p = 0.043; multivariate: p = 0.024). III. The T allele of rs2476601 (PTPN22) was proven to be a significant marker of RA and level 2 PD comorbidity (bivariate: p < 0.001; multivariate: p = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONS

These results support the thesis that genetic variations may represent a possible link between PD and RA. The study increases knowledge about disease-specific and cross-disease genetic pattern.

Psoriatic arthritis: A systematic review of non-HLA genetic studies and important signaling pathways

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a common, chronic inflammatory disease with complex pathogenesis. In recent years, a number of susceptibility non-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes of PsA have been revealed, which also act as important factors in the pathogenesis of PsA as well as HLA genes. By searching the databases National Center for Biotechnology Information, Google and PubMed, 37 articles are included and 50 susceptibility non-HLA genes for PsA are presented, such as IL23A, TNIP1, TYK2, STAT4, IL12B, RUNX3 and TRAF3IP2. In these non-HLA genes, some are common genes shared with other diseases, whereas most of these susceptibility genes are related to the pathogenesis of PsA by activation or inhibition of the signaling pathways. Several signaling pathways possibly implicated in the pathogenesis of PsA are introduced in this paper, including the 2 mainly signaling pathways, IL23/Th17 signaling pathway and NF-κB signaling pathway, and the other involved signaling pathways, such as JAK-STAT signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway.

PTPN22 gene polymorphism and susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA): Updated systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Several genome-wide association studies have revealed a genetic background with respect to susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although several individual case-control studies have evaluated the role of protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor 22 (PTPN22) gene rs2476601 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in conferring a risk for RA, the results have been conflicting. Hence, this meta-analysis was aimed to provide a solution for this issue.

METHODS

To search for studies assessing the association between the PTPN22 gene rs2476601 SNP and the risk of RA, a systematic search was conducted in the main databases, including PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, prior to December 2019. The odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to assess the possibility of association risk.

RESULTS

The literature search identified 52 case-control studies. The pooled analysis detected significant positive association of rs2476601 in all genetic models, including dominant model (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.55-1.84, P < 0.001), recessive model (OR = 2.50, 95% CI = 2.06-3.05, P < 0.001), allelic model (OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.60-2.2, P < 0.001), TT versus CC model (OR = 2.79, 95% CI = 2.28-3.41, P < 0.001) and CT versus CC model (OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.50-1.67, P < 0.001). Analyses based on population stratification indicated that rs2476601 SNP strongly increased the risk of RA in Caucasians and Africans under all genotype models.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis reports that the PTPN22 gene rs2476601 SNP increases RA risk, especially in Caucasians and Africans.

The evolution in our understanding of the genetics of rheumatoid arthritis and the impact on novel drug discovery

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by chronic inflammation of the joints and affects 1% of the population. Polymorphisms of genes that encode proteins that primarily participate in inflammation may influence RA occurrence or become useful biomarkers for certain types of anti-rheumatic treatment.Areas covered: The authors summarize the recent progress in our understanding of the genetics of RA. In the last few years, multiple variants of genes that are associated with RA risk have been identified. The development of new technologies and the detection of new potential therapeutic targets that contribute to novel drug discovery are also described.Expert opinion: There is still the need to search for new genes which may be a potential target for RA therapy. The challenge is to develop appropriate strategies for achieving insight into the molecular pathways involved in RA pathogenesis. Understanding the genetics, immunogenetics, epigenetics and immunology of RA could help to identify new targets for RA therapy. The development of new technologies has enabled the detection of a number of new genes, particularly genes associated with proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, B- and T-cell activation pathways, signal transducers and transcriptional activators, which might be potential therapeutic targets in RA.

Genetics and rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility in Iran

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder with a number of risk factors, including both genetic and environmental. A number of RA risk associated genomic loci has been identified. In this review, we summarize the association of genetic factors with RA reported in population studies in Iran. No significant association was found between the majority of genetic factors identified in other populations and risk for RA in the Iranian subjects. This conflicting result could be due to the ethnic differences and diversity that are present in Iran. We conclude that there is a need to investigate larger groups of Iranian subjects, encompassing different regions of Iran, to either prove or refute these initial findings.

TP53 single nucleotide polymorphism (rs1042522) in Iranian patients with coronary artery disease

Chronic diseases including coronary artery disease (CAD) impose a high burden in terms of mortality and disability particularly in developing countries. Both genetic and environmental risk factors confer susceptibility to CAD. Meanwhile, a functional polymorphism in the tumor protein p53 (TP53) gene (codon 72, exon 4) has been reported to be associated with a wide range of cancers and inflammatory disorders. There are controversies regarding CAD and involvement of the TP53 codon 72 single nucleotide polymorphism; therefore, the present case-control study was conducted to evaluate the potential association between this TP53 polymorphism and CAD in an Iranian population. A total of 153 subjects (including 70 patients diagnosed with CAD and 83 subjects with normal coronary parameters, determined by angiography) were genotyped for the TP53 (rs1042522) polymorphism by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. Clinical and laboratory findings were also evaluated. The χ² test and unpaired Student's t-test were applied to compare genotype and allele distributions and clinical characteristics between the two groups. Significant associations of the Pro72 allele [odds ratio (OR)=1.66, P=0.027] and Pro/Pro genotype (OR=2.91, P=0.022) with CAD were identified. No associations between patients' clinical findings and genotypes were apparent. Therefore, according to present findings, the TP53 Pro72 allele may be involved in the development of CAD along with conventional risk factors in patients from Northern Iran.