TRAIL Death Receptor-4, Decoy Receptor-1 and Decoy Receptor-2 Expression on CD8+ T Cells Correlate with the Disease Severity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder. Although the pathogenesis of disease is unclear, it is well known that T cells play a major role in both development and perpetuation of RA through activating macrophages and B cells. Since the lack of TNF-Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) expression resulted in defective thymocyte apoptosis leading to an autoimmune disease, we explored evidence for alterations in TRAIL/TRAIL receptor expression on peripheral T lymphocytes in the molecular mechanism of RA development. METHODS: The expression of TRAIL/TRAIL receptors on T cells in 20 RA patients and 12 control individuals were analyzed using flow cytometry. The correlation of TRAIL and its receptor expression profile was compared with clinical RA parameters (RA activity scored as per DAS28) using Spearman Rho Analysis. RESULTS: While no change was detected in the ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ T cells between controls and RA patient groups, upregulation of TRAIL and its receptors (both death and decoy) was detected on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in RA patients compared to control individuals. Death Receptor-4 (DR4) and the decoy receptors DcR1 and DcR2 on CD8+ T cells, but not on CD4+ T cells, were positively correlated with patients' DAS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that TRAIL/TRAIL receptor expression profiles on T cells might be important in revelation of RA pathogenesis

Flora and Botanic Tourism Potential of Yaraligoz (Kastamonu) Education and Observation Forest

KARAKOSE, MUSTAFA/0000-0003-0534-3996WOS: 000463055400010Aim of Study: In this study, it was aimed to identify the flora of Yaraligoz Education and Observation Forest and revealing its potential in terms of botanic tourism. Area of study: The study area is the Yaraligoz Education and Observation Forest, which is within the boundaries of four forest planning units (Devrekani, Tezcan, Seyhsaban and Karacakaya) belonging to the Kastamonu Regional Directorate. Yaraligoz Education and Observation Forest is located in the transitional zone between the Euxine province of Euro-Siberian and Irano-Turanian floristic areas in terms of plant geography. Material and Methods: This research is a flora study and the materials of this stiidy included plant specimens collected from Yaraligoz Mountainbetween 2011 and 2012. Main Results: With this study, 374 vascular plant taxa were identified. Pteridophyta section were represented by 6 taxa, Pinidae sub-class by 7 taxa, and Magnoliidae subclass by 361 taxa. The largest family was Asteraceae (45; 12.1%), followed by Lamiaceae (35; 9.3%), Rosaceae and Fabaceae (27; 7.2%). The phytogeographic regions of 190 taxa represented in the study area are as follows: Euro-Siberian 144 (38.7%), Irano-Turanian 24 (6.4%) and Mediterranean 22 (5.9%). Raunkiaer's life forms showed that Hemicryptophytes with 50.7% Phanerophytes with 15.7% and Cryptophytes with 14.9% were the most frequent life forms. Highlights: Twenty-three endemic and one rare plant taxa were identified. In addition, new distribution areas were determined for the endemic taxon Acer hyrcanum subsp. keckianum and European spruce. Because of the presence of many characteristic plant species, Yaraligoz Education and Observation Forest has been identified to have an important botanic tourism potential

A comparative study on two closely relative Tulipa L. taxa from NE Anatolia

Coskuncelebi, Kamil/0000-0001-5713-6628WOS: 000261181800005This study presents observations on the anatomical, palynological and ecological features of Tulipa gumusanica Terzioglu and its morphologically similar relative, T. armena Boiss. var. armena, in order to clarify their similarities and differences. We found that these taxa have some important differences with regard to anatomical, palynological and ecological features, as well as morphological traits. General anatomical traits of both examined taxa are similar, both having isolateral leaves with distinct hypodermis and a stem with distinct monolayer collenchyma close to the epidermis. However, some anatomical characters such as mesophyll width, average number of stomata on lower epidermis, and epidermal cells on upper epidermis are found to be important in delimiting these taxa. In addition, considerable differences have been observed in pollen shape and size. The species differ ecologically in that T. gumusanica prefers slightly acidic soil with low organic content in the woodland, whereas T. armena var. armena prefers slightly alkali soil with high organic content in steppe vegetation

TRAIL Death Receptor-4, Decoy Receptor-1 and Decoy Receptor-2 Expression on CD8⁺T Cells Correlate with the Disease Severity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract Background Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder. Although the pathogenesis of disease is unclear, it is well known that T cells play a major role in both development and perpetuation of RA through activating macrophages and B cells. Since the lack of TNF-Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) expression resulted in defective thymocyte apoptosis leading to an autoimmune disease, we explored evidence for alterations in TRAIL/TRAIL receptor expression on peripheral T lymphocytes in the molecular mechanism of RA development. Methods The expression of TRAIL/TRAIL receptors on T cells in 20 RA patients and 12 control individuals were analyzed using flow cytometry. The correlation of TRAIL and its receptor expression profile was compared with clinical RA parameters (RA activity scored as per DAS28) using Spearman Rho Analysis. Results While no change was detected in the ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ T cells between controls and RA patient groups, upregulation of TRAIL and its receptors (both death and decoy) was detected on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in RA patients compared to control individuals. Death Receptor-4 (DR4) and the decoy receptors DcR1 and DcR2 on CD8+ T cells, but not on CD4+ T cells, were positively correlated with patients' DAS scores. Conclusions Our data suggest that TRAIL/TRAIL receptor expression profiles on T cells might be important in revelation of RA pathogenesis.</p

Characteristics Predicting Tuberculosis Risk under Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Inhibitors: Report from a Large Multicenter Cohort with High Background Prevalence

WOS: 000378167600010PubMed ID: 26773107Objective. Screening strategies for latent tuberculosis (TB) before starting tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors have decreased the prevalence of TB among patients who are treated with these agents. However, despite vigilant screening, TB continues to be an important problem, especially in parts of the world with a high background TB prevalence. The aim of this study was to determine the factors related to TB among a large multicenter cohort of patients who were treated with anti-TNF. Methods. Fifteen rheumatology centers participated in this study. Among the 10,434 patients who were treated with anti-TNF between September 2002 and September 2012, 73 (0.69%) had developed TB. We described the demographic features and disease characteristics of these 73 patients and compared them to 7695 patients who were treated with anti-TNF, did not develop TB, and had complete data available. Results. Among the 73 patients diagnosed with TB (39 men, 34 women, mean age 43.6 +/- 13 yrs), the most frequent diagnoses were ankylosing spondylitis (n = 38) and rheumatoid arthritis (n = 25). More than half of the patients had extrapulmonary TB (39/73, 53%). Six patients died (8.2%). In the logistic regression model, types of anti-TNF drugs [infliximab (IFX), OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.88-6.10, p = 0.001] and insufficient and irregular isoniazid use (<9 mos; OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.43-6.9, p = 0.004) were independent predictors of TB development. Conclusion. Our results suggest that TB is an important complication of anti-TNF therapies in Turkey. TB chemoprophylaxis less than 9 months and the use of IFX therapy were independent risk factors for TB development