8 research outputs found
Proceedings of the 24th Paediatric Rheumatology European Society Congress: Part three
From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications Router.Publication status: PublishedHistory: collection 2017-09, epub 2017-09-0
Increased Frequency of Peripheral B and T Cells Expressing Granulocyte Monocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
ObjectivesGranulocyte monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is currently considered a crucial inflammatory mediator and a novel therapeutic target in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), despite the fact that its precise cellular sources remain uncertain. We studied the expression of GM-CSF in peripheral lymphocytes from RA patients and its change with antirheumatic therapies.MethodsIntracellular GM-CSF expression was assessed by flow cytometry in stimulated peripheral B (CD19+) and T (CD3+) cells from RA patients (nâ=â40), disease (nâ=â31 including osteoarthritis nâ=â15, psoriatic arthritis nâ=â10, and systemic rheumatic diseases nâ=â6) and healthy (nâ=â16) controls. The phenotype of GM-CSF+ B cells was assessed as well as longitudinal changes in GM-CSF+ lymphocytes during methotrexate (MTX, nâ=â10) or anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF, nâ=â10) therapy.ResultsAmong untreated RA patients with active disease (Disease Activity Score 28-C-reactive proteinâ=â5.6â±â0.89) an expanded population of peripheral GM-CSF+ B (4.1â±â2.2%) and T (3.4â±â1.6%) cells was detected compared with both disease (1.7â±â0.9%, pâ<â0.0001 and 1.7â±â1.3%, pâ<â0.0001, respectively) and healthy (0.3â±â0.2%, pâ<â0.0001 and 0.6â±â0.6%, pâ<â0.0001) controls. RA GM-CSF+ B cells displayed more commonly a plasmablast or transitional phenotype (37.12â±â18.34% vs. 14.26â±â9.46%, pâ=â0.001 and 30.49â±â15.04% vs. 2.45â±â1.84%, pâ<â0.0001, respectively) and less a memory phenotype (21.46â±â20.71% vs. 66.99â±â16.63%, pâ<â0.0001) compared to GM-CSFâ cells. GM-CSF expression in RA patients did not correlate to disease duration, activity or serological status. Anti-TNF treatment led to a statistically significant decrease in GM-CSF+ B and T cells while MTX had no significant effect.DiscussionThis is the first study showing an expanded population of GM-CSF+ B and T lymphocytes in patients with active RA which declined after anti-TNF therapy
Five-year prospective multi-center cohort study of patients with giant cell arteritis in Greece.
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common systemic vasculitis in the aged population associated with significant morbidity due to the long term administration of corticosteroids and the presence of various comorbidities. Data regarding its current treatment modalities, comorbidities, morbidity and mortality in Greece are limited. In this multi-center, prospective study that begun at the end of 2015 patients with newly diagnosed GCA according to the modified 1990 ACR criteria, as well as individuals with established or relapsing disease have been included. During the 1(st) phase of the study that is still ongoing, data are being collected concerning demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, treatment at the onset of the disease and at relapses, relapses, adverse events of therapy, comorbidities, hospitalizations and deaths. During the 2(nd) and 3(rd) phase of the study patients will be reevaluated 2 and 5 years after their 1st evaluation. The study is expected to provide valuable data regarding the current clinical characteristics, comorbidities, therapeutic regimens used, relapse rate, morbidity and mortality of patients with GCA