High prevalence of autoantibodies to RNA helicase A in Mexican patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Introduction: Autoantibodies to RNA helicase A (RHA) were reported as a new serological marker of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with early stage of the disease. Anti-RHA and other autoantibodies in Mexican SLE patients and their correlation with clinical and immunological features were examined.Methods: Autoantibodies in sera from 62 Mexican SLE patients were tested by immunoprecipitation of 35S-labeled K562 cell extract and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (anti-U1RNP/Sm, ribosomal P, ?2GPI, and dsDNA). Anti-RHA was screened based on the immunoprecipitation of the 140-kDa protein, the identity of which was verified by Western blot using rabbit anti-RHA serum. Clinical and immunological characteristics of anti-RHA-positive patients were analyzed.Results: Anti-RHA was detected in 23% (14/62) of patients, a prevalence higher than that of anti-Sm (13%, 8/62). Prevalence and levels of various autoantibodies were not clearly different between anti-RHA (+) vs. (-) cases, although there was a trend of higher levels of anti-RHA antibodies in patients without anti-U1RNP/Sm (P = 0.07). Both anti-RHA and -Sm were common in cases within one year of diagnosis; however, the prevalence and levels of anti-RHA in patients years after diagnosis did not reduce dramatically, unlike a previous report in American patients. This suggests that the high prevalence of anti-RHA in Mexican patients may be due to relatively stable production of anti-RHA.Conclusions: Anti-RHA was detected at high prevalence in Mexican SLE patients. Detection of anti-RHA in races in which anti-Sm is not common should be clinically useful. Racial difference in the clinical significance of anti-RHA should be clarified in future studies. � 2010 V�zques-Del Mercado et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Single nucleotid polymorphisms of adhesion molecules and clinical parameters in rheumatoid arthritis [Polimorfismos de nucleótido simple en moléculas de adhesión y parámetros clúnicos en artritis reumatoide]

The aim was to investigate the relationship between E-selectin, ICAM1 and VCAM1 polymorphisms with lipid profile and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical inflammation markers. Sixty RA patients classified according to 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and 60 unrelated healthy controls (HS) defined as Mexican-mestizo population, were included. The genotypes were characterized using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) technique. The ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), RF (rheumatoid factor), fibrinogen (FB), C-reactive protein (CRP) and lipid profile were measured by routine methods. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v10.0. The significant Pearson's correlations were: ESR with CRP, RF, FB and HDLc, (r=0.507, 0.296, 0.475, and -0.308, respectively); CRP with FB (r=0.613), p<0.05. The results showed an association with A allele of ICAM1 polymorphism and serum levels of HDLc and LDLc; and Apo-B and FR showed an association with C allele of VCAM1 polymorphism (p<0.05). Data shows that FB and HDLc levels, and ICAM1 polymorphism allele 721A and VCAM1 polymorphism allele 1238G are associated with clinical inflammation markers in RA. Our Mexican-mestizo population showed differences with many reports (from English, American, Turkish, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, and Korean populations)

Single nucleotid polymorphisms of adhesion molecules and clinical parameters in rheumatoid arthritis [Polimorfismos de nucleótido simple en moléculas de adhesión y parámetros clínicos en artritis reumatoide]

The aim was to investigate the relationship between E-selectin, ICAM1 and VCAM1 polymorphisms with lipid profile and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical inflammation markers. Sixty RA patients classified according to 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and 60 unrelated healthy controls (HS) defined as Mexican-mestizo population, were included. The genotypes were characterized using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) technique. The ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), RF (rheumatoid factor), fibrinogen (FB), C-reactive protein (CRP) and lipid profile were measured by routine methods. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v10.0. The significant Pearson's correlations were: ESR with CRP, RF, FB and HDLc, (r=0.507, 0.296, 0.475, and -0.308, respectively); CRP with FB (r=0.613), p<0.05. The results showed an association with A allele of ICAM1 polymorphism and serum levels of HDLc and LDLc; and Apo-B and FR showed an association with C allele of VCAM1 polymorphism (p<0.05). Data shows that FB and HDLc levels, and ICAM1 polymorphism allele 721A and VCAM1 polymorphism allele 1238G are associated with clinical inflammation markers in RA. Our Mexican-mestizo population showed differences with many reports (from English, American, Turkish, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, and Korean populations)

Expression of ICAM1 and VCAM1 serum levels in rheumatoid arthritis clinical activity. Association with genetic polymorphisms

To investigate the association of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 with ICAM1 721G>A and VCAM1 1238G>C polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical activity, sixty RA patients and 60 healthy non-related subjects (HS) matched for age and sex were recruited. Soluble adhesion molecules were determined by ELISA technique. Rheumatoid factor (RF), C reactive protein (CRP) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured by routine methods. Disability and clinical activity was measured with Spanish-HAQ-DI and DAS28 scores, respectively. The ICAM1 and VCAM1 polymorphism were identified using the PCR-RFLP procedure. Inter-group comparison showed increased levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in RA patients (284 and 481 ng/mL) versus HS (132 and 280 ng/mL); in the RA group, significant correlations between sVCAM-1 and RF (r = 0.402), ESR (r = 0.426), Spanish-HAQ-DI (r = 0.276), and DAS28 (r = 0.342) were found, whereas sICAM-1 only correlated with RF (r = 0.445). In RA patients, a significant association with the 721A allele of ICAM1 polymorphism (p = 0.04), was found. In addition, the allele impact (G/A+A/A) of this polymorphism was confirmed, (p = 0.038, OR = 2.3, C.I. 1.1-5.0). sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 serum levels reflected the clinical status in RA, independently of the ICAM1 and VCAM1 polymorphism. However, the ICAM1 721A allele could be a genetic marker to RA susceptibility. © 2009 IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved