Simultaneous assessment of rotavirus-specific memory B cells and serological memory after B cell depletion therapy with rituximab

Q2Q11-12The mechanisms that contribute to the maintenance of serological memory are still unclear. Rotavirus (RV) memory B cells(mBc) are enriched in IgM+and CD27-subpopulations, which are associated with autoimmune diseases pathogenesis. Inpatients with autoimmune diseases treated with Rituximab (RTX), some autoantibodies (auto-Abs) decrease after treatment,but other auto-Abs and pathogen-specific IgG Abs remain unchanged. Thus, maintenance of autoimmune and pathogen-specific serological memory may depend on the type of antigen and/or Ab isotype evaluated. Antigen-specific mBc andantigen-specific Abs of different isotypes have not been simultaneously assessed in patients after RTX treatment. To study the relationship between mBc subpopulations and serological memory we characterized total, RV- and tetanus toxoid (TT)-specific mBc by flow cytometry in patients with autoimmune diseases before and after treatment with RTX. We also measured total, RV- and TT-Abs, and some auto-Abs by kinetic nephelometry, ELISA, and EliA tests, respectively. Minor differences were observed between the relative frequencies of RV-mBc in healthy controls and patients with autoimmune disease. After RTX treatment, naı ̈ve Bc and total, RV- and TT-specific mBc [IgM+, switched (IgA+/IgG+), IgM+only, IgD+only, and CD27-(IgA+/IgG+/IgM+)] were significantly diminished. An important decrease in total plasma IgM and minor decrease in total IgG and IgA levels were also observed. IgM rheumatoid factor, IgG anti-CCP, and IgG anti-dsDNA were significantly diminished. In contrast, RV-IgA, RV-IgG and RV-IgG1, and TT-IgG titers remained stable. In conclusion, in patients with autoimmunity, serological memory against RV and TT seem to be maintained by long-lived plasma cells, unaffected by RTX, and an important proportion of total IgM and serological memory against some auto-antigens seem to be maintained by short-lived plasma cells, dependent on mBc precursors depleted by RTX

Policondritis recurrente. Estudio de 19 casos en Colombia

Resumen Objetivo: Describir el comportamiento clínico y paraclínico de la PR en la población colombiana y comparar nuestros resultados con otras series publicadas. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo observacional de 19 casos de PR presentados en 4 centros de reumatología del país durante los últimos 10 años. Los pacientes cumplieron con el diagnóstico de PR de acuerdo al parámetro establecido. Se obtuvo la frecuencia de todas las manifestaciones de la enfermedad y se compararon los hallazgos con 9 series de pacientes con PR publicadas en la literatura entre 1966 y 2007. Resultados: La edad promedio fue 46 años. Se observó una relación por género de 4:1 a favor del sexo femenino. El seguimiento se realizó por 4 años en promedio. La primera manifestación de la enfermedad fue condritis auricular en el 89%, y fue la manifestación más frecuente al presentarse en la totalidad de los casos. Respecto otras series publicadas, se encontró una menor frecuencia de artritis (21%), compromiso ocular (10%) y dermatológico (10%). El compromiso renal (10%), neurológico (5%) y la asociación con otras enfermedades autoinmunes (50%) tuvieron la frecuencia esperada. No se observó compromiso cardiovascular en esta serie. El 100% de los pacientes recibieron corticoides. Adicionalmente el 57% recibieron terapia inmunosupresora asociada. La mortalidad fue del 10% por complicaciones asociadas a la PR. Conclusiones: En este estudio, a diferencia de otras series de origen caucásico y oriental, observamos una clara predominancia del género femenino, el compromiso extracartilaginoso es menos frecuente y la condritis auricular es nuestra manifestación inicial más importante. Estos hallazgos podrían ser el reflejo de diferencias genéticas, inmunológicas o ambientales. Palabras claves: Policondritis recurrente, condritis, vasculitis, corticoides. Abstract Objective: To describe clinical and paraclinical involvement in RP in a Colombian population and compare it with another series previously published. Methods and materials: Retrospective review of 19 cases of RP presented in 4 rheumatology centers in our country in the last 10 years. All patients met diagnostic criteria previously established. In every case, each clinical feature was analized and then compared with another 9 series of RP previously published between 1966 y 2007. Results: Mean age at diagnosis was 46 years. A female predominance was observed in a relation 4:1. Mean follow-up was 4 years. Auricular condritis was the initial clinical feature in 89% of patients and finally was observed in the 100% of our report. Compared with other series, we found less frequently arthritis (21%), ocular (10%) and dermatologic involvement (10%). Renal and neurologic involvement and the association between RP and another autoimmune disorder were found in the expected frequency. We not observed any cardiovascular involvement in our serie. All of the patients received corticosteroids and 57% had had another immunosuppressive medication. Observed mortality was 10% by complications associated to RP. Conclusions: In contrast with another series from Caucasian and Oriental population, we observed a marked predominance of female sex, a minor frequency of systemic involvement and auricular condritis is our most frequent initial clinical feature. Probably, these findings are the result of a different genetic, immunological and environmental background. Key words: Relapsing polychondritis, chondritis, vasculitis, corticosteroids

Artritis reumatoide en minorías.

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is a rapidly growing region with almost 600 million inhabitants composed of Mexico, Central and South America, and the islands of the Caribbean [1, 2]. The Americas were first inhabited by people crossing the Bering Land Bridge from northeast Asia into Alaska well over 10,000 years ago. Native Americans descend from at least three streams of Asian gene flow [3]. Europeans arrived after 1492 following Christopher Columbus’s voyages. African people were captured and taken to America by the transatlantic slave trade from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Hence, the population of LAC comprises a variety of ancestries, ethnic groups, and races, making the region one of the most diverse in the world. The specific composition varies from country to country: many have a predominance of European-Native American, or Mestizo, population; in others, Native Americans are a majority; some are dominated by inhabitants of European ancestry; some countries’ populations are primarily Mulatto [4]. To a less extent, Black, Asian, and Zambo (mixed Black and Native American) are also identified regularly [4]. Noteworthy, ethnic self-identification is culturally and biologically complex and is not correlated with self-reported ancestry which should be no longer evaluated by questionnaire but rather by the use of ancestry informative markers (AIMs) at the molecular leve

Espondiloartropatias seronegativas y viceversa

Introducción. Las Espondiloartropatias Seronegativas (EAS) son un grupo de enfermedades interrelacionadas que presentan compromiso inflamatorio articular y hallazgos extraarticulares. Por otra parte, las Enfermedades Autoinmunes (EAI) son un síndrome clínico caracterizado por la pérdida de la tolerancia inmune. Se encuentra en ellas activación de células B o T, conllevando a daño tisular en ausencia de cualquier otra causa. No existe evidencia sustancial para considerar las EAS como EAI, pero si pueden ser consideradas como enfermedades autoinflamatorias. Dado que la poliautoinmunidad es una de las más importantes características de las EAI, nuestro propósito fue investigar la relación entre EAS y EAI. \ud Materiales y métodos. 2 grupos fueron analizados. Primero, evaluamos la presencia de EAI en una cohorte de pacientes con EAS (n=148). Segundo, examinamos la presencia de EAS en un grupo bien definido de pacientes con EAI (n=1077), incluyendo artritis reumatoide (AR), lupus eritematosos sistémico (LES) y síndrome de Sjögren (SS)\ud Resultados. En el grupo de EAS, dos pacientes presentaron SS (1.4%) y 5 hipotiroidismo autoinmune (HAI) (3.5%). No se encontraron otras EAI en este grupo. La prevalencia de EAI en EAS fue 4.86%. En el grupo de EAI, 5 pacientes presentaron EAS (0.46%). \ud Conclusión. Este estudio no sugiere relación entre EAS y EAI, reforzando la evidencia a favor de que las EAS corresponden más a enfermedades autoinflamatorias que a EAIIntroduction. Spondyloarthropathies (SpAs) are a group of interrelated diseases with joint inflammatory involvement and extraarticular findings. Autoimmune diseases (ADs), in turn, are a clinical syndrome caused by the loss of immune tolerance. It is characterized by T or B cell activation leading to tissue damage in the absence of any other cause. There is no substantial evidence that SpAs are autoimmune diseases but they can be considered autoinflammatory diseases. Since polyautoimmunity is one of the major clinical characteristics of ADs, our purpose was to investigate the relationship between SpAs and ADs. \ud Materials and methods. 2 groups were analyzed. First, we examined the presence of ADs in a cohort of patients with SpA (N=148). Second, we searched for the presence of SpA in a well defined group of patients with ADs (N=1077) including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and Sjögren\u92s syndrome (SS). \ud Results. In SpAs group, there were two patients presenting with SS (1.4%) and five patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism (3.5%). No other AD was found in this group. Prevalence of ADs in SpAs was 4.86%. In ADs group, 5 patients with SpAs were observed (0.46%). \ud Conclusion. This study does not suggest a relationship between SpAs and ADs, stressing evidence that SpAs correspond more to autoinflammatory diseases rather than to ADs

Familial aggregation and segregation analysis in families presenting Autoimmunity, Polyautoimmunity, and Multiple Autoimmune Syndrome

Studies documenting increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases (ADs) have shown that these conditions share several immunogenetic mechanisms (i.e., the autoimmune tautology). This report explored familial aggregation and segregation of AD, polyautoimmunity, and multiple autoimmune syndrome (MAS) in 210 families. Familial aggregation was examined for first-degree relatives. Segregation analysis was implemented as in S.A.G.E. release 6.3. Data showed differences between late- and early-onset families regarding their age, age of onset, and sex. Familial aggregation of AD in late- and early-onset families was observed. For polyautoimmunity as a trait, only aggregation was observed between sibling pairs in late-onset families. No aggregation was observed for MAS. Segregation analyses for AD suggested major gene(s) with no clear discernible classical known Mendelian transmission in late-onset families, while for polyautoimmunity and MAS no model was implied. Data suggest that polyautoimmunity and MAS are not independent traits and that gender, age, and age of onset are interrelated factors influencing autoimmunity. © 2015 John Castiblanco et al

Familial aggregation and segregation analysis in families presenting Autoimmunity, Polyautoimmunity, and Multiple Autoimmune Syndrome

Studies documenting increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases (ADs) have shown that these conditions share several immunogenetic mechanisms (i.e., the autoimmune tautology). This report explored familial aggregation and segregation of AD, polyautoimmunity, and multiple autoimmune syndrome (MAS) in 210 families. Familial aggregation was examined for first-degree relatives. Segregation analysis was implemented as in S.A.G.E. release 6.3. Data showed differences between late- and early-onset families regarding their age, age of onset, and sex. Familial aggregation of AD in late- and early-onset families was observed. For polyautoimmunity as a trait, only aggregation was observed between sibling pairs in late-onset families. No aggregation was observed for MAS. Segregation analyses for AD suggested major gene(s) with no clear discernible classical known Mendelian transmission in late-onset families, while for polyautoimmunity and MAS no model was implied. Data suggest that polyautoimmunity and MAS are not independent traits and that gender, age, and age of onset are interrelated factors influencing autoimmunity. © 2015 John Castiblanco et al

Familial Aggregation and Segregation Analysis in Families Presenting Autoimmunity, Polyautoimmunity, and Multiple Autoimmune Syndrome

Studies documenting increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases (ADs) have shown that these conditions share several immunogenetic mechanisms (i.e., the autoimmune tautology). This report explored familial aggregation and segregation of AD, polyautoimmunity, and multiple autoimmune syndrome (MAS) in 210 families. Familial aggregation was examined for first-degree relatives. Segregation analysis was implemented as in S.A.G.E. release 6.3. Data showed differences between late- and early-onset families regarding their age, age of onset, and sex. Familial aggregation of AD in late- and early-onset families was observed. For polyautoimmunity as a trait, only aggregation was observed between sibling pairs in late-onset families. No aggregation was observed for MAS. Segregation analyses for AD suggested major gene(s) with no clear discernible classical known Mendelian transmission in late-onset families, while for polyautoimmunity and MAS no model was implied. Data suggest that polyautoimmunity and MAS are not independent traits and that gender, age, and age of onset are interrelated factors influencing autoimmunity

Novel risk factors for cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis

Since cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we aimed to determine factors associated with such a complication in a large series of Colombian patients. This was a cross-sectional analytical study in which 800 consecutive Colombian patients with RA were assessed for variables associated with CVD. Furthermore, a systematic literature review was performed to address the state of the art about non-traditional risk factors for CVD in RA. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines were followed in data extraction, analysis, and reporting of articles selected. Hypercholesterolemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, abnormal body mass index, abdominal obesity, and current smoking were all traditional risk factors significantly associated with CVD in Colombians. As non-traditional risk factors, familial autoimmunity, more than 10 years of duration of the disease, patients working on household duties, use of systemic steroids, and low education level were associated with CVD in the studied population. Out of a total of 9,812 articles identified in PubMed and Scopus databases, 140 fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included. Through this systematic review, several factors and outcomes related to CVD were confirmed and identified. These were categorized into genetics, RA-related, and others. Traditional risk factors do not completely explain the high rates of CVD in patients with RA; thus, novel risk factors related to autoimmunity are now recognized predicting the presence of CVD as strong as traditional risk factors. Our results may assist health professionals and policymakers in making decisions about CVD in patients with RA. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

Novel risk factors for cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis

Since cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we aimed to determine factors associated with such a complication in a large series of Colombian patients. This was a cross-sectional analytical study in which 800 consecutive Colombian patients with RA were assessed for variables associated with CVD. Furthermore, a systematic literature review was performed to address the state of the art about non-traditional risk factors for CVD in RA. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines were followed in data extraction, analysis, and reporting of articles selected. Hypercholesterolemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, abnormal body mass index, abdominal obesity, and current smoking were all traditional risk factors significantly associated with CVD in Colombians. As non-traditional risk factors, familial autoimmunity, more than 10 years of duration of the disease, patients working on household duties, use of systemic steroids, and low education level were associated with CVD in the studied population. Out of a total of 9,812 articles identified in PubMed and Scopus databases, 140 fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included. Through this systematic review, several factors and outcomes related to CVD were confirmed and identified. These were categorized into genetics, RA-related, and others. Traditional risk factors do not completely explain the high rates of CVD in patients with RA; thus, novel risk factors related to autoimmunity are now recognized predicting the presence of CVD as strong as traditional risk factors. Our results may assist health professionals and policymakers in making decisions about CVD in patients with RA. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

Does non-erosive rheumatoid arthritis exist? A cross-sectional analysis and a systematic literature review

"Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with non-erosive rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: First, a cross-sectional analytical study was performed. Non-erosive disease, defined as the absence of any erosion on X-rays after 5 years of RA, was evaluated in 500 patients. Further and additional evaluations including ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) were performed in those patients meeting the eligibility criteria. The Spearman correlation coefficient, kappa analysis, and Kendall[U+05F3]s W test were used to analyze the data. Second, a systematic literature review (SLR) was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. Results: Of a total of 40 patients meeting the eligibility criteria for non-erosive RA, eight patients were confirmed to have non-erosive RA by the three methods. A positive correlation between non-erosive RA and shorter disease duration, antinuclear antibodies positivity, lower rheumatoid factor (RF) and C-reactive protein titers, lower global visual analog scale values, toxic exposures, and lower disease activity-(RAPID3) was found. In addition, an inverse correlation with anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) positivity and medication use was observed. From the SLR, it was corroborated that factors associated with this subphenotype were shorter disease duration, younger disease onset, negative ACPA and RF titers, low cytokine levels, and some genetic markers. Conclusion: Non-erosive RA is rare, occurring in less than 2% of cases. These findings improve on the understanding of RA patients who present without erosions and are likely to have less severe disease. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.