Inflammation, lipid metabolism and cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis: A qualitative relationship?

Do oxidized low-density lipoproteins link to extra hepatic manifestations in chronic, non-cirrhotic HCV patients?

Background

Tissue damage by viral hepatitis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Oxidation reactions and reactive oxygen species (ROS) transform proteins and lipids in plasma low-density lipoproteins (LDL) into the abnormal oxidized LDL (ox-LDL). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection induces oxidative/nitrosative stress from multiple sources, including the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), the mitochondrial electron transport chain, hepatocyte NAD(P)H oxidases (NOX enzymes), and inflammation. Further, HCV decreases reduced glutathione (GSH) synthesis and regeneration.

Design

Cross-section.

Objective

to quantify ox-LDL in serum of chronic non-cirrhotic HCV patients, and to assess ox-LDL association with HCV-induced extra hepatic manifestations.

Patients and methods

Twenty chronic, non-cirrhotic HCV female patients with extra hepatic manifestations, twenty chronic, non-cirrhotic female HCV patients without extra hepatic manifestations and twenty healthy age, sex matched controls.

Methods

Serum was used for determination of liver function tests, ox-LDL and the extracellular antioxidant enzyme Superoxide Dismutase EC CuZn-SOD.

Results

Patients with extra hepatic manifestations had statistically higher ox-LDL (76.63 ± 6.86 μg/L) than patients without extra hepatic manifestations (63.05 ± 6.6 μg/L) p < 0.001, and both patient groups had higher ox-LDL levels than the control group (44.1 ± 4.1 μg/L) p < 0.001. EC CuZn-SOD correlated negatively with ox-LDL in HCV patients with extra hepatic manifestation only.

Conclusion

Extra hepatic manifestations were not risk for anthropometric changes seen with HCV infection. Extra hepatic manifestations were associated with high serum ox-LDL. High serum levels of ox-LDL associated with- or were due to deregulated expression of serum EC CuZn-SOD in chronic HCV patients.

A genome-wide association study of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in a large Korean population highlights its genetic relationship with cholesterol metabolism

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is a representative biomarker of systemic inflammation and is associated with numerous chronic diseases. To explore the biological pathways and functions underlying chronic inflammation, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and several post-GWAS analyses of the hsCRP levels. This study was performed on data from 71,019 Koreans and is one of the largest East Asian studies. Overall, 69 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified, including 13 novel variants. The implicated genes and pathways are primarily involved in cholesterol metabolism and the immune response. A phenome-wide association study was performed based on a polygenic risk score (PRS) constructed using 69 hsCRP-associated SNPs. Notably, the alleles associated with higher hsCRP levels appeared to be associated with lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (P = 1.69 × 10-33, β = -1.47) and higher γ -glutamyl transpeptidase (P = 8.30 × 10-8, β = 0.84). It suggests that increase in genetically determined hsCRP may contribute to a decrease in cholesterol level and a strong oxidative environment in the blood vessel. Thus, individuals with higher hsCRP-PRS may have a greater risk of cardiovascular diseases. Our findings suggest the genetic association between cholesterol and hsCRP, as well as the clinical importance of hsCRP-PRS for predicting the potential risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Targeting the vivid facets of apolipoproteins as a cardiovascular risk factor in rheumatoid arthritis

Mostly, cardiovascular diseases are blamed for casualties in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Customarily, dyslipidemia is probably the most prevalent underlying cause of untimely demise in people suffering from RA as it hastens the expansion of atherosclerosis. The engagement of inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), etc., is crucial in the progression and proliferation of both RA and abnormal lipid parameters. Thus, lipid abnormalities should be monitored frequently in patients with both primary and advanced RA stages. An advanced lipid profile examination, i.e., direct role of apolipoproteins associated with various lipid molecules is a more dependable approach for better understanding of the disease and selecting suitable therapeutic targets. Therefore, studying their apolipoproteins is more relevant than assessing RA patients' altered lipid profile levels. Among the various apolipoprotein classes, Apo A1 and Apo B are primarily being focused. In addition, it also addresses how calculating Apo B:Apo A1 ratio can aid in analyzing the disease's risk. The marketed therapies available to control lipid abnormalities are associated with many other risk factors. Hence, directly targeting Apo A1 and Apo B would provide a better and safer option.

Dyslipidemia in rheumatoid arthritis: the possible mechanisms

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease, of which the leading cause of death is cardiovascular disease (CVD). The levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) in RA decrease especially under hyperinflammatory conditions. It is conflictive with the increased risk of CVD in RA, which is called "lipid paradox". The systemic inflammation may explain this apparent contradiction. The increased systemic proinflammatory cytokines in RA mainly include interleukin-6(IL-6)、interleukin-1(IL-1)and tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α). The inflammation of RA cause changes in the subcomponents and structure of HDL particles, leading to a weakened anti-atherosclerosis function and promoting LDL oxidation and plaque formation. Dysfunctional HDL can further worsen the abnormalities of LDL metabolism, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the specific mechanisms underlying lipid changes in RA and increased CVD risk remain unclear. Therefore, this article comprehensively integrates the latest existing literature to describe the unique lipid profile of RA, explore the mechanisms of lipid changes, and investigate the impact of lipid changes on cardiovascular disease.

Lipid metabolism and rheumatoid arthritis

As a chronic progressive autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by mainly damaging the synovium of peripheral joints and causing joint destruction and early disability. RA is also associated with a high incidence rate and mortality of cardiovascular disease. Recently, the relationship between lipid metabolism and RA has gradually attracted attention. Plasma lipid changes in RA patients are often detected in clinical tests, the systemic inflammatory status and drug treatment of RA patients can interact with the metabolic level of the body. With the development of lipid metabolomics, the changes of lipid small molecules and potential metabolic pathways have been gradually discovered, which makes the lipid metabolism of RA patients or the systemic changes of lipid metabolism after treatment more and more comprehensive. This article reviews the lipid level of RA patients, as well as the relationship between inflammation, joint destruction, cardiovascular disease, and lipid level. In addition, this review describes the effect of anti-rheumatic drugs or dietary intervention on the lipid profile of RA patients to better understand RA.

Lipoprotein(a): Cardiovascular Disease, Aortic Stenosis and New Therapeutic Option

Atherosclerosis is a chronic and progressive inflammatory process beginning early in life with late clinical manifestation. This slow pathological trend underlines the importance to early identify high-risk patients and to treat intensively risk factors to prevent the onset and/or the progression of atherosclerotic lesions. In addition to the common Cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, new markers able to increase the risk of CV disease have been identified. Among them, high levels of Lipoprotein(a)-Lp(a)-lead to very high risk of future CV diseases; this relationship has been well demonstrated in epidemiological, mendelian randomization and genome-wide association studies as well as in meta-analyses. Recently, new aspects have been identified, such as its association with aortic stenosis. Although till recent years it has been considered an unmodifiable risk factor, specific drugs have been developed with a strong efficacy in reducing the circulating levels of Lp(a) and their capacity to reduce subsequent CV events is under testing in ongoing trials. In this paper we will review all these aspects: from the synthesis, clearance and measurement of Lp(a), through the findings that examine its association with CV diseases and aortic stenosis to the new therapeutic options that will be available in the next years.

Dietary inflammatory index significantly affects lipids profile among adults: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The available data on the relationship between dietary inflammatory index (DII®) and serum lipids are controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the relationship between DII® and serum lipids, including total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) in general populations. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Cochrane electronic databases were systematically searched from inception to December 2019. Case-control, cohort or cross-sectional studies that evaluated the relationship between DII® and serum lipids were included. The random-effects model was applied to evaluate the pooled weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: In total, twenty-four cross-sectional and one case-control studies with a total sample size of 129,759 were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that the highest category of DII® was associated with 5.16 mg/dl increase in TC (Pooled WMD: 5.16; 95% CI: 0.58-9.73, p = 0.02) and 3.99 mg/dl increase in LDL-C (Pooled WMD: 3.99; 95% CI: 1.16-6.81, p = 0.006). However, no significant association between DII® scores, HDL-C and TG was found. In subgroup analysis, the geographical region, gender, and dietary assessment methods were potent sources of heterogeneity. Conclusion: This study showed that a higher level of DII® was associated with higher levels of TC and LDL-C in apparently healthy populations. Since the included studies had observational designs, therefore, no conclusion of causality was possible. More studies with interventional designs are required to elucidate the causality of the observed association between DII® and the risk of abnormal lipid profile.

Immunological mechanisms of exercise therapy in dyslipidemia

Numerous studies demonstrated the strong link between dyslipidemia and the cardiovascular risk. Physical activity and exercise represent effective prevention and therapy strategies for dyslipidemia and at the same time counteract numerous comorbidities that often accompany the disease. The physiological mechanisms are manifold, and primary mechanisms might be an increased energy consumption and associated adaptations of the substrate metabolism. Recent studies showed that there are bidirectional interactions between dyslipidemia and the immune system. Thus, abnormal blood lipids may favor pro-inflammatory processes, and at the same time inflammatory processes may also promote dyslipidemia. Physical activity has been shown to affect numerous immunological processes and has primarily anti-inflammatory effects. These are manifested by altered leukocyte subtypes, cytokine patterns, stress protein expression, and by reducing hallmarks of immunosenescence. The aim of this review is to describe the effects of exercise on the treatment dyslipidemia and to discuss possible immunological mechanisms against the background of the current literature.

A Role of IL-17 in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Complicated With Atherosclerosis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is mainly caused by joint inflammation. RA significantly increases the probability of cardiovascular disease. Although the progress of RA has been well controlled recently, the mortality of patients with RA complicated with cardiovascular disease is 1.5–3 times higher than that of patients with RA alone. The number of people with atherosclerosis in patients with RA is much higher than that in the general population, and atherosclerotic lesions develop more rapidly in patients with RA, which has become one of the primary factors resulting in the death of patients with RA. The rapid development of atherosclerosis in RA is induced by inflammation-related factors. Recent studies have reported that the expression of IL-17 is significantly upregulated in patients with RA and atherosclerosis. Simultaneously, there is evidence that IL-17 can regulate the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells through various ways and promote the secretion of several cytokines leading to the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis. Presently, there is no clear prevention or treatment plan for atherosclerosis in patients with RA. Therefore, this paper explores the mechanism of IL-17 in RA complicated with atherosclerosis and shows the reasons for the high incidence of atherosclerosis in patients with RA. It is hoped that the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis in patients with RA can be diagnosed or prevented in time in the early stage of lesions, and the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular complications in patients with RA can be enhanced to reduce mortality.

Lipoprotein(a) Where Do We Stand? From the Physiopathology to Innovative Terapy

A number of epidemiologic studies have demonstrated a strong association between increasing lipoprotein a [Lp(a)] and cardiovascular disease. This correlation was demonstrated independent of other known cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. Screening for Lp(a) in the general population is not recommended, although Lp(a) levels are predominantly genetically determined so a single assessment is needed to identify patients at risk. In 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines recommend Lp(a) measurement at least once a lifetime, fo subjects at very high and high CV risk and those with a family history of premature cardiovascular disease, to reclassify patients with borderline risk. As concerning medications, statins play a key role in lipid lowering therapy, but present poor efficacy on Lp(a) levels. Actually, treatment options for elevated serum levels of Lp(a) are very limited. Apheresis is the most effective and well tolerated treatment in patients with high levels of Lp(a). However, promising new therapies, in particular antisense oligonucleotides have showed to be able to significantly reduce Lp(a) in phase II RCT. This review provides an overview of the biology and epidemiology of Lp(a), with a view to future therapies.

α-Mangostin Alleviated Inflammation in Rats With Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis by Disrupting Adipocytes-Mediated Metabolism-Immune Feedback

A previously identified anti-rheumatic compound α-mangostin (MAN) possesses notable metabolism regulatory properties. In this study, we investigated the immune implication of MAN-altered fat metabolism on adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats. Seven days after AIA induction, the rats received oral treatment of MAN at 50 mg/kg/day for 30 days. Metabolic indicators and basic clinical parameters were evaluated using samples collected on day 20 and 38 since immunization. Expression of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), stearoyl-coa desaturase 1 (SCD-1), toll like receptor 4 (TLR4), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (COX-2), (p)-JNK, (p)-p65 and IL-1β were investigated by either RT-qPCR or immunobloting methods. In in vitro experiments, we treated (pre)-adipocytes with monocytes/macrophages and MAN, and investigated the changes of macrophages brought by pre-adipocytes co-culture. Generally, MAN restored the impaired fat anabolism in AIA rats, indicated by increased fat reservoir, leptin and adiponectin secretion, and PPAR-γ and SCD-1 expression. Meanwhile, it decreased circulating IL-1β and IL-6 levels, restored serological lipid profile changes, and relieved oxidative stresses, demonstrating potent therapeutic effects on AIA. AIA rats-derived monocytes inhibited mRNA PPAR-γ and SCD-1 expression in pre-adipocytes. Contrarily, MAN facilitated adipocyte differentiation in vitro, and increased free fatty acids production. It also significantly increased PPAR-γ and SCD-1 expression, which can be abrogated by PPAR-γ inhibitor T0070907. Similarly, lipopolysaccharide-primed macrophages inhibited PPAR-γ expression in the co-cultured pre-adipocytes, which was reversed by MAN. In the same co-culture system, lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation was amplified by the co-existence of pre-adipocytes. More secretion of IL-1β and IL-6 and higher levels expression of COX-2, p-JNK, p-p65 and TLR4 were observed in lipopolysaccharide-treated macrophages when co-cultured by pre-adipocytes. The intensified inflammatory situation was eased by MAN. The treatment with pre-adipocytes culture medium achieved similar effects. Medium from lipopolysaccharide-treated adipocytes promoted IL-1β, IL-6 and MCP-1 production in separately cultured macrophages, and COX-2, p-JNK, p-p65 and TLR4 expression were increased at the meantime. MAN treatment on pre-adipocytes impaired these changes. It suggests that fat anabolism in AIA rats was deficient due to increased energy expenditure caused by inflammatory conditions. MAN restored fat metabolism homeostasis by up-regulating PPAR-γ, and reshaped secretion profile of adipocytes.

Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Common Hypertriglyceridemia Genetic Variants in Patients with Systemic Erythematosus Lupus

SLE is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis to analyze its relationship with dyslipidemia and related genetic factors in a population of patients with SLE. Seventy-one SLE female patients were recruited. Carotid ultrasound, laboratory profiles, and genetic analysis of the ZPR1, APOA5, and GCKR genes were performed. SLE patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of carotid plaques. Patients with carotid plaque had higher plasma TG (1.5 vs. 0.9 mmol/L, p = 0.001), Non-HDL-C (3.5 vs. 3.1 mmol/L, p = 0.025), and apoB concentrations (1.0 vs. 0.9 g/L, p = 0.010) and a higher prevalence of hypertension (80 vs. 37.5%, p = 0.003) than patients without carotid plaque. The GCKR C-allele was present in 83.3% and 16.7% (p = 0.047) of patients with and without carotid plaque, respectively. The GCKR CC genotype (OR = 0.026; 95% CI: 0.001 to 0.473, p = 0.014), an increase of 1 mmol/L in TG concentrations (OR = 12.550; 95% CI: 1.703 to 92.475, p = 0.013) and to be hypertensive (OR = 9.691; 95% CI: 1.703 to 84.874, p = 0.040) were independently associated with carotid atherosclerosis. In summary, plasma TG concentrations, CGKR CC homozygosity, and hypertension are independent predictors of carotid atherosclerosis in women with SLE.

Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of oral gram negative anaerobes from Indian subjects

OBJECTIVES

There is paucity of information on the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of oral anaerobic bacteria. In this study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility/resistance trend of oral Gram negative bacteria from Indian subjects.

METHODS

Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 304 isolates against twelve different antibiotics were determined using gradient diffusion MIC strips. The organisms were isolated and identified based on phenotypic characteristics and included Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella species, Tannerella forsythia, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcoitans, Eickenella corrodens and Capnocytophaga species. For each antimicrobial agent, MIC₅₀ and MIC₉₀ were calculated and expressed.

RESULTS

Resistance to azithromycin, clindamycin, and amoxicillin was observed in most of the anaerobic bacterial species studied. High degree of susceptibility was observed to amoxillin-clavulanic acid, doxycycline and moxifloxacin. A single strain of P. melaninogenica was resistant to moxifloxacin. The susceptibility pattern varied with cephalosporins among species. Ceftriaxone showed highest and cefazolin least efficacy among cephalosporins. All anaerobic bacteria tested were susceptible to metronidazole. Strains of T. forsythia were more resistant to several antibiotics than other anaerobic bacteria. All three species of capnophilic bacteria displayed high degree of resistance to metronidazole and significant resistance to amoxicillin, azithromycin, clindamycin, cefazolin and cefuroxime.

CONCLUSIONS

Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, doxycycline, moxifloxacin and metronidazole appeared to be the most effective drugs against gram negative anaerobic bacteria. However, the MIC₅₀ and MIC₉₀ values against metronidazole were on the higher side of the normal indicating a potential for developing resistance.

Cardiovascular Risk Assessment and Therapeutic Implications in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) suffer from a magnitude of excess cardiovascular risk. A paradoxical lipid pattern has been observed in rheumatoid arthritis patients where low levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. This paper aims to break down the evidence explaining why patients with low to normal LDL, and total cholesterol have such excess cardiovascular risk. A component of the enhanced cardiovascular risk is systemic inflammation and the subsequent pro-atherogenic dyslipidemia patterns. Due to this "lipid paradox," current risk algorithms and guidelines designed for the general population may underestimate cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate some of the discrepancies and layers of cardiovascular risk in RA patients, the role RA medication may have in mitigating or increasing cardiovascular risk, and the possible role of statin therapy.

Lipoprotein(a) the Insurgent: A New Insight into the Structure, Function, Metabolism, Pathogenicity, and Medications Affecting Lipoprotein(a) Molecule

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], aka "Lp little a", was discovered in the 1960s in the lab of the Norwegian physician Kåre Berg. Since then, we have greatly improved our knowledge of lipids and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Lp(a) is an enigmatic class of lipoprotein that is exclusively formed in the liver and comprises two main components, a single copy of apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 (apo-B100) tethered to a single copy of a protein denoted as apolipoprotein(a) apo(a). Plasma levels of Lp(a) increase soon after birth to a steady concentration within a few months of life. In adults, Lp(a) levels range widely from <2 to 2500 mg/L. Evidence that elevated Lp(a) levels >300 mg/L contribute to CVD is significant. The improvement of isoform-independent assays, together with the insight from epidemiologic studies, meta-analyses, genome-wide association studies, and Mendelian randomization studies, has established Lp(a) as the single most common independent genetically inherited causal risk factor for CVD. This breakthrough elevated Lp(a) from a biomarker of atherosclerotic risk to a target of therapy. With the emergence of promising second-generation antisense therapy, we hope that we can answer the question of whether Lp(a) is ready for prime-time clinic use. In this review, we present an update on the metabolism, pathophysiology, and current/future medical interventions for high levels of Lp(a).

Vascular inflammation and low-density lipoproteins: is cholesterol the link? A lesson from the clinical trials

For long time, the role of LDL and inflammation in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis have been studied independently from each other and only more recently a common platform has been suggested. Accumulation of excess cholesterol due to the presence of increased circulating LDL promotes endothelium dysfunction and activation, which is associated with increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, overexpression of adhesion molecules, chemokines and C-reactive protein (CRP), increased generation of reactive oxygen species and reduction of nitric oxide levels and bioavailability. All these processes favour the progressive infiltration of inflammatory cells within the arterial wall where cholesterol accumulates, both extracellularly and intracellularly, and promotes vascular inflammation. According to this, lipid-lowering therapies should improve inflammation and, indeed, statins decrease circulating inflammatory markers such as CRP and improve endothelial function and plaque burden. Pleiotropic activities have been proposed to explain this effect. However, mendelian randomization studies ruled out a direct role for CRP on coronary artery disease and studies with other lipid lowering drugs, such as ezetimibe showed that the beneficial effect of LDL-cholesterol-lowering therapies on systemic inflammatory status, as monitored by changes in CRP plasma levels, could be achieved, independently of the mechanism of action, only in patients presenting with baseline inflamed conditions. These observations strengthen the direct link between cholesterol and inflammation and indicate that decreasing LDL levels is one of the key goals for improving cardiovascular outcome.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed section on Targeting Inflammation to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.22/issuetoc and http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bcp.v82.4/issuetoc.

High prevalence of gallstone disease in rheumatoid arthritis: A new comorbidity related to dyslipidemia?

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of gallstone disease and identify associated risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to the general population.

METHODS

Eighty-four women with rheumatoid arthritis were included in the study. Each patient was assessed via a structured interview, physical examination, abdominal ultrasound and blood test including lipid profile. The prevalence of gallstone disease in rheumatoid arthritis was compared with data from a study of the Spanish population matched by age groups.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight of the 84 women had gallstone disease (33.3%). RA women with and without gallstone disease were similar in most of the variables assessed, except for older age and menopausal status in the former. A greater prevalence of gallstone disease was seen in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to the general population of the same age; however, the differences were significant only in women aged 60 or older (45.5% versus 23.1% respectively, P-value .008). The age-adjusted OR of developing gallstone disease in RA women compared with general population women was 2,3 (95% CI: 1.3-4.1). A significantly higher HDL3-c subfraction and higher apoA-I/HDL and HDL3-c/TC ratios were observed in patients with gallstone disease.

CONCLUSION

Women with rheumatoid arthritis may have a predisposition to gallstones that can manifest in middle or older age compared with women in the general population. This situation could be related to chronic inflammation and HDL metabolism.

The LDL/HDL ratio and atherosclerosis in ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVES

In ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, cardiac and vascular involvement may manifest as atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol constitute a significant risk for atherosclerosis. This study investigated the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), LDL/HDL ratio, total oxidant status (TOS; an indicator of oxidative stress) and ischemic modified albumin (IMA; an ischemic marker in AS patients).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty AS patients were diagnosed using the Modified New York Criteria; 54 age- and gender-matched participants were included as controls. CIMT, LDL/HDL ratio, TOS and IMA were measured using the most appropriate methods.

RESULTS

IMA was higher in AS patients compared to controls (p < 0.0001). TOS was also increased in AS patients (p = 0.005); as was CIMT (p < 0.0001). The LDL/HDL ratio was also greater in AS patients compared to controls (p = 0.047). A positive correlation was found between CIMT and LDL/HDL ratio among AS patients.

CONCLUSION

Elevated CIMT, IMA and TOS levels suggest an increased risk of atherosclerotic heart disease in AS patients. The LDL/HDL ratio was higher in AS patients compared to controls, and there was a correlation between LDL/HDL ratio and CIMT, albeit statistically weak. Therefore, the LDL/HDL ratio is not a reliable marker to predict atherosclerotic heart disease in AS patients.

The LDL/HDL ratio and atherosclerosis in ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVES

In ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, cardiac and vascular involvement may manifest as atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol constitute a significant risk for atherosclerosis. This study investigated the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), LDL/HDL ratio, total oxidant status (TOS; an indicator of oxidative stress) and ischemic modified albumin (IMA; an ischemic marker in AS patients).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty AS patients were diagnosed using the Modified New York Criteria; 54 age- and gender-matched participants were included as controls. CIMT, LDL/HDL ratio, TOS and IMA were measured using the most appropriate methods.

RESULTS

IMA was higher in AS patients compared to controls (p < 0.0001). TOS was also increased in AS patients (p = 0.005); as was CIMT (p < 0.0001). The LDL/HDL ratio was also greater in AS patients compared to controls (p = 0.047). A positive correlation was found between CIMT and LDL/HDL ratio among AS patients.

CONCLUSION

Elevated CIMT, IMA and TOS levels suggest an increased risk of atherosclerotic heart disease in AS patients. The LDL/HDL ratio was higher in AS patients compared to controls, and there was a correlation between LDL/HDL ratio and CIMT, albeit statistically weak. Therefore, the LDL/HDL ratio is not a reliable marker to predict atherosclerotic heart disease in AS patients.

Centenarian Rates and Life Expectancy Related to the Death Rates of Multiple Sclerosis, Asthma, and Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Incidence of Type 1 Diabetes in Children

The autoimmune diseases are among the 10 leading causes of death for women and the number two cause of chronic illness in America as well as a predisposing factor for cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Patients of some autoimmune diseases have shown a shorter life span and are a model of accelerated immunosenescence. Conversely, centenarians are used as a model of successful aging and have shown several immune parameters that are better preserved and lower levels of autoantibodies. The study reported here focused on clarifying the connection between longevity and some autoimmune and allergic diseases in 29 developed Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, because multidisciplinary analyses of the accelerated or delayed aging data could show a distinct relationship pattern, help to identify common factors, and determine new important factors that contribute to longevity and healthy aging. The relationships between the mortality rates data of multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), asthma, the incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) from one side and centenarian rates (two sets) as well as life expectancy data from the other side were assessed using regression models and Pearson correlation coefficients. The data obtained correspond to an inverse linear correlation with different degrees of linearity. This is the first observation of a clear tendency of diminishing centenarian rates or life expectancy in countries having higher death rates of asthma, MS, and RA and a higher incidence of T1D in children. The conclusion is that most probably there are common mechanistic pathways and factors affecting the above diseases and at the same time but in the opposite direction the processes of longevity. Further study, comparing genetic data, mechanistic pathways, and other factors connected to autoimmune diseases with those of longevity could clarify the processes involved, so as to promote longevity and limit the expansion of those diseases in the younger and older population.

Host Protein Biomarkers Identify Active Tuberculosis in HIV Uninfected and Co-infected Individuals

Biomarkers for active tuberculosis (TB) are urgently needed to improve rapid TB diagnosis. The objective of this study was to identify serum protein expression changes associated with TB but not latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI), uninfected states, or respiratory diseases other than TB (ORD). Serum samples from 209 HIV uninfected (HIV⁻) and co-infected (HIV⁺) individuals were studied. In the discovery phase samples were analyzed via liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, and in the verification phase biologically independent samples were analyzed via a multiplex multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (MRM-MS) assay. Compared to LTBI and ORD, host proteins were significantly differentially expressed in TB, and involved in the immune response, tissue repair, and lipid metabolism. Biomarker panels whose composition differed according to HIV status, and consisted of 8 host proteins in HIV⁻ individuals (CD14, SEPP1, SELL, TNXB, LUM, PEPD, QSOX1, COMP, APOC1), or 10 host proteins in HIV⁺ individuals (CD14, SEPP1, PGLYRP2, PFN1, VASN, CPN2, TAGLN2, IGFBP6), respectively, distinguished TB from ORD with excellent accuracy (AUC = 0.96 for HIV⁻ TB, 0.95 for HIV⁺ TB). These results warrant validation in larger studies but provide promise that host protein biomarkers could be the basis for a rapid, blood-based test for TB.

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Active tuberculosis leads to the differential expression of serum proteins involved in associated host processes.

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Serum protein expression changes in tuberculosis involve the immune response, tissue repair, and lipid metabolism.

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Panels of 8–10 host proteins can distinguish active tuberculosis from latent infection, and other respiratory diseases.

Accurate biomarkers for active tuberculosis (TB) are urgently needed to improve rapid diagnosis. Current diagnostics for TB rely on microbiologic or molecular confirmation of M. tuberculosis, and are therefore dependent on a specimen from the site of disease which is not always accessible. This study demonstrates that human host proteins are differentially expressed in TB compared to latent M. tuberculosis infection, or respiratory diseases other than TB. Our data thus provide promise that host proteins have the potential to become the basis of rapid blood tests that do not require a sample from the site of disease.

Looking to the horizon: the role of bilirubin in the development and prevention of age-related chronic diseases

Bilirubin, the principal tetrapyrrole, bile pigment and catabolite of haem, is an emerging biomarker of disease resistance, which may be related to several recently documented biological functions. Initially believed to be toxic in infants, the perception of bilirubin has undergone a transformation: it is now considered to be a molecule that may promote health in adults. Data from the last decade demonstrate that mildly elevated serum bilirubin levels are strongly associated with reduced prevalence of chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), as well as CVD-related mortality and risk factors. Recent data also link bilirubin to other chronic diseases, including cancer and Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to all-cause mortality. Therefore, there is evidence to suggest that bilirubin is a biomarker for reduced chronic disease prevalence and a predictor of all-cause mortality, which is of important clinical significance. In the present review, detailed information on the association between bilirubin and all-cause mortality, as well as the pathological conditions of CVD, cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases, is provided. The mechanistic background concerning how bilirubin and its metabolism may influence disease prevention and its clinical relevance is also discussed. Given that the search for novel biomarkers of these diseases, as well as for novel therapeutic modalities, is a key research objective for the near future, bilirubin represents a promising candidate, meeting the criteria of a biomarker, and should be considered more carefully in clinical practice as a molecule that might provide insights into disease resistance. Clearly, however, greater molecular insight is warranted to support and strengthen the conclusion that bilirubin can prevent disease, with future research directions also proposed.

[New agents for hypercholesterolemia]

An elevated proportion of high cardiovascular risk patients do not achieve the therapeutic c-LDL goals. This owes to physicians' inappropriate or insufficient use of cholesterol lowering medications or to patients' bad tolerance or therapeutic compliance. Another cause is an insufficient efficacy of current cholesterol lowering drugs including statins and ezetimibe. In addition, proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 inhibitors are a new cholesterol lowering medications showing safety and high efficacy to reduce c-LDL in numerous already performed or underway clinical trials, potentially allowing an optimal control of hypercholesterolemia in most patients. Agents inhibiting apolipoprotein B synthesis and microsomal transfer protein are also providing a new potential to decrease cholesterol in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia and in particular in homozygote familial hypercholesterolemia. Last, cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors have shown powerful effects on c-HDL and c-LDL, although their efficacy in cardiovascular prevention and safety has not been demonstrated yet. We provide in this article an overview of the main characteristics of therapeutic agents for hypercholesterolemia, which have been recently approved or in an advanced research stage.

miR-375 regulates the canonical Wnt pathway through FZD8 silencing in arthritis synovial fibroblasts

Whether the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis is regulated by microRNA (miRNA) is not entirely clear. In this study, we found that miR-375 was down-regulated significantly in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rat model compared with control. Because the web-based software TargetScan and PicTar predict Frizzled 8 (FZD8) as the target of miR-375, we investigated whether up-regulated miR-375 plays a role in the activation of the canonical Wnt signaling by targeting the FZD8. Furthermore, the purpose of the present experiments was also to determine the role of miR-375 in the pathogenesis of AIA rat model and to ascertain the effects of FZD8 in this process. Real time qPCR, Western blotting, ELISA and ChIP assay were used to assess the inhibited role of miR-375 in the pathogenesis of AIA rat model and the canonical Wnt signaling. RNA interference was also used to detect the role of knockdown of dephosphorylated β-catenin. Luciferase reporter gene and related methods were performed to determine the FZD8 as the target of miR-375. The increased miR-375 inhibited the pathogenesis of AIA rat model as indicated by decreases in the several disease markers, such as MMP3 and fibronectin. Interestingly, miR-375 also inhibited the canonical Wnt signaling, and the stabilized form of β-catenin blocked the miR-375 effects. FZD8 was identified as the target of miR-375 in AIA rat model by the firefly luciferase reporter gene. In summary, our results demonstrate that miR-375 regulates the pathogenesis of AIA rat model through the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. This discovery may provide new targets for therapeutic intervention to benefit RA patients.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 may as a novel target in downregulating the atherosclerosis inflammation (Review)

Inflammation is a key component of atherosclerosis. Genes coding for inflammatory or anti-inflammatory molecules are considered good candidates for estimating the risk of developing atherosclerosis. Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), the kinase of positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), is crucial in the cell cycle and apoptosis. Previous studies have focused on its inhibition of immune cells for the resolution of inflammation. Considering the effects of inflammation in the pathogenicity of atherosclerosis, decreasing inflammation through the inhibition of CDK9 may be useful for the prognosis of atherosclerosis. The aim of this review was to examine whether inhibition of the CDK9 monocyte may affect the process of inflammation by acting on the cytokine secretion and interacting with endothelial cells (ECs). Thus, CDK9 may be a novel target for the diagnosis and therapy of atherosclerosis.