The Co-Existence of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Biomarkers: Is It Rhupus?

Background: Rhupus is a rare clinical condition where rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) overlap and is characterized by the presence of erosive arthritis with symptoms and signs of SLE. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of anti-CCP antibodies in SLE patients from CHU BLIDA (Immunology unit) and its association with anti-DNA and Anti Sm, in order to make a diagnosis of rhupus among our patients. Methods: Our retrospective study included 96 patients fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for lupus. anti-CCP antibodies, anti-Sm were analyzed by  ELISA, anti-DNA antibodies were determined by both IFI on Crithidia luciliae substrate and  ELISA. The FR by Laser Nephelemetry. Inclusion criteria are the presence of at least one immunological marker of LES with anti-CCP. The sex ratio F / H is equal to 13/1, where the average age is 37 years. Results: Anti-CCP was found in 14 patients  (14.6% ), 56.25% and 39.59%  had positive anti-DNA and antiSm respectively; rheumatoid factors (RF) were positive in 27.08% of cases; anti-CCP / FR combination was found in 7.3% of cases. Besides, the combination of anti-CCP and anti-DNA was found in 12.5%. These two autoantibodies were simultaneously absent in 49.92% of cases. Arthritis was found in 80 patients. Our results concerning the prevalence of immunological and clinical markers of RA such as anti-CCP, RF and arthritis in our lupus patients corroborate with those of the literature. Conclusion: Based on the presence of shared clinical features of RA and SLE along with the presence of anti-DNA and anti-CCP antibodies in our patients, our findings strongly support the contention that rhupus is a true overlap between RA and SLE. Despite being a rare entity, it is important to know the clinical and humoral elements that allow its early diagnosis, making it easier to start treatment in a timely manner and reduce its possible complications

Inhibition of Y1 receptor signaling improves islet transplant outcome

Failure to secrete sufficient quantities of insulin is a pathological feature of type-1 and type-2 diabetes, and also reduces the success of islet cell transplantation. Here we demonstrate that Y1 receptor signaling inhibits insulin release in β-cells, and show that this can be pharmacologically exploited to boost insulin secretion. Transplanting islets with Y1 receptor deficiency accelerates the normalization of hyperglycemia in chemically induced diabetic recipient mice, which can also be achieved by short-term pharmacological blockade of Y1 receptors in transplanted mouse and human islets. Furthermore, treatment of non-obese diabetic mice with a Y1 receptor antagonist delays the onset of diabetes. Mechanistically, Y1 receptor signaling inhibits the production of cAMP in islets, which via CREB mediated pathways results in the down-regulation of several key enzymes in glycolysis and ATP production. Thus, manipulating Y1 receptor signaling in β-cells offers a unique therapeutic opportunity for correcting insulin deficiency as it occurs in the pathological state of type-1 diabetes as well as during islet transplantation.Islet transplantation is considered one of the potential treatments for T1DM but limited islet survival and their impaired function pose limitations to this approach. Here Loh et al. show that the Y1 receptor is expressed in β- cells and inhibition of its signalling, both genetic and pharmacological, improves mouse and human islet function.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Immunocytochemical evidence for the presence of gamma 1-MSH-like immunoreactivity in pituitary corticotrophs and ACTH-producing tumours.

The presence of gamma 1-MSH has been demonstrated in bovine neuro-intermediate lobe by biochemical methods, thus suggesting that this peptide is cleaved from the cryptic region of pro-opiocortin. In this study we report the localisation of gamma 1-MSH-like immunoreactivity in the adenohypophysis of man, ox, pig, dog and guinea-pig using immunocytochemical procedures at both light and electron microscope levels. Antisera recognising the C-terminal Arg-Phe-amide and the C-terminal penta-peptide-amide of gamma 1-MSH have been used throughout this study. The immunostaining was found in all endocrine cells of the pars intermedia (where present) and in scattered cells of the pars distalis identified as corticotrophs. No gamma 1-MSH immunoreactivity was detected in rat adenohypophysis. In addition, 7 ACTH-producing tumours (1 pituitary adenoma and 6 ectopic) were investigated and shown to contain gamma 1-MSH immunoreactive cells