Nanomaterials for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Inflammatory Arthritis

Nanomaterials have received increasing attention due to their unique chemical and physical properties for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the most common complex multifactorial joint-associated autoimmune inflammatory disorder. RA is characterized by an inflammation of the synovium with increased production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) and by the destruction of the articular cartilage and bone, and it is associated with the development of cardiovascular disorders such as heart attack and stroke. While a number of imaging tools allow for the monitoring and diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis, and despite ongoing work to enhance their sensitivity and precision, the proper assessment of RA remains difficult particularly in the early stages of the disease. Our goal here is to describe the benefits of applying various nanomaterials as next-generation RA imaging and detection tools using contrast agents and nanosensors and as improved drug delivery systems for the effective treatment of the disease.

Interleukin10-1082 A/G polymorphism: Allele frequency, correlation with disease markers, messenger RNA and serum levels in North Indian rheumatoid arthritis patients

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. IL-10 stimulates B cell survival and is involved in antibody isotype switching. The serum IL-10 levels are increased in RA patients. Ethnicity influences polymorphisms in cytokine genes. Therefore, this study was designed to explore possible association, if any, between polymorphism of IL10-1082 A/G, serum cytokine levels, inflammatory markers and gene expression in RA patients of North India.

METHODOLOGY

A total of 187 RA patients classified according to American college of rheumatology 2010 criteria and 214 controls were included in the study. Levels of serum IL-10 and inflammatory markers were estimated by ELISA. PCR-RFLP was used to analyze IL10-1082 A/G polymorphism. Quantitative real time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of IL-10 gene.

RESULTS

The serum inflammatory markers were significantly higher in RA patients. Circulating IL-10 levels were positively and significantly correlated with RF (r = 0.28), anti-CCP (r = 0.26), CRP (r = 0.17) and mRNA expression levels (r = 0.59) among RA patients. Homozygous mutant variant (GG) and heterozygous mutant variant (AG) were associated with patients of RA (OR = 2.87 and 1.55, p < 0.05) as compared to controls. The association still persisted when the heterozygous and homozygous mutants (AG + GG) were clubbed together (OR = 1.67, p < 0.05). The mRNA expression of IL-10 was found to be 3.63 folds higher (housekeeping gene, β-actin) and 2.42 folds higher (housekeeping gene, 18S rRNA) in RA patients as compared to controls.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that IL10-1082 A/G polymorphism is associated with genetic susceptibility/predisposition to RA in North Indian population.

Association of polymorphic variants in IL1B gene with secretion of IL-1β protein and inflammatory markers in north Indian rheumatoid arthritis patients

The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) is a key mediator of inflammation which affects cell proliferation and differentiation. IL-1β is considered to contribute to the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Polymorphisms in cytokine genes are highly influenced by ethnicity. Hence, in this study polymorphism of the IL1B-511(C/T) within promoter region was analyzed by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 187 RA patients and 214 controls. The prevalence of different genotypes and allelic frequency distribution was compared in RA patients and controls. Levels of inflammatory markers and serum levels of IL-1β were estimated by ELISA The serum inflammatory markers levels were significantly higher in RA patients as compared to controls (RF=127.3±21.3U/mL, Anti-CCP=17.8±8.3U/mL, CRP=17.86±7.1mg/L and IL-1β=21.25±4.19pg/mL in RA patients p<0.01). The frequency of heterozygous mutant (C/T) and homozygous mutant (T/T) variants were significantly higher in RA patients as compared to controls and the odds ratios by logistic regression were (OR=2.2, p<0.001) and (OR=3.21, p<0.01) respectively. The association persisted on combining the heterozygous mutant and homozygous mutant (CT+TT) together as compared to controls (OR=2.39; p<0.001). Positive and significant (p<0.05) correlation of circulating IL-1β levels with RF (r=0.232), anti-CCP (r=0.207) and CRP (r=0.166) among RA patients were found. The levels of anti-CCP were significantly higher in homozygous mutant variants (TT) as well as the heterozygous mutant variants (C/T) in comparison to the wild variants (CC) (p<0.01). The results of this study reveal that mutant allele (T) of IL1B-511 promoter SNP tends to be associated with elevated anti-CCP and IL-1β levels as observed in RA patients and hence disease susceptibility.