Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.)
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Arthritis Rheumatol · Nov 2016
Brief Report: Risk of Gastrointestinal Perforation Among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Receiving Tofacitinib, Tocilizumab, or Other Biologic Treatments.
To evaluate gastrointestinal (GI) perforation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving tofacitinib, tocilizumab, or other biologic agents. ⋯ The risk of lower GI tract perforation associated with tocilizumab treatment, and possibly tofacitinib treatment, is elevated compared to that associated with TNF blockade.
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Arthritis Rheumatol · Nov 2016
Expression of Long Interspersed Nuclear Element 1 Retroelements and Induction of Type I Interferon in Patients With Systemic Autoimmune Disease.
Increased expression of type I interferon (IFN) and a broad signature of type I IFN-induced gene transcripts are observed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other systemic autoimmune diseases. To identify disease-relevant triggers of the type I IFN pathway, this study sought to investigate whether endogenous virus-like genomic repeat elements, normally silent, are expressed in patients with systemic autoimmune disease, and whether these retroelements could activate an innate immune response and induce type I IFN. ⋯ L1 genomic repeat elements represent endogenous nucleic acid triggers of the type I IFN pathway in SLE and SS and may contribute to initiation or amplification of autoimmune disease.
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Arthritis Rheumatol · Oct 2016
Clinical and Imaging Signs of Spondyloarthritis in First-Degree Relatives of HLA-B27-Positive Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients: The Pre-Spondyloarthritis (Pre-SpA) Cohort Study.
To investigate whether seemingly healthy first-degree relatives of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have clinical, laboratory, or imaging features of spondyloarthritis (SpA). ⋯ A substantial proportion of seemingly healthy first-degree relatives of HLA-B27-positive AS patients have clinical and/or imaging abnormalities suggestive of SpA. Thirty-three percent could be classified as having SpA. Further follow-up will show which first-degree relatives will develop clinically manifest SpA.
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Arthritis Rheumatol · Oct 2016
Granulation Tissue Eroding the Subchondral Bone Also Promotes New Bone Formation in Ankylosing Spondylitis.
We previously suggested that fibroblast-rich granulation tissue eroding the subchondral bone is instrumental in the joint remodeling that occurs in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The purpose of this study was to determine if this granulation tissue also carries bone-forming capabilities, which we approached by searching for bone-forming cells (hypertrophic chondrocytes, osteoblasts) in its vicinity. We also assessed adipogenic tissue transformation, which has been suggested to be an intermediate feature in AS bone formation based on imaging studies. ⋯ The subchondral granulation tissue carries osteoblasts, which promote new bone formation, leading to intraarticular ankylosis of the facet joints in AS.
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Arthritis Rheumatol · Sep 2016
Monocyte MicroRNA Expression in Active Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Implicates MicroRNA-125a-5p in Polarized Monocyte Phenotypes.
Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is an inflammatory disease of childhood in which cells of the monomyelocytoid lineage are thought to be key effector cells. Monocytes from patients with systemic JIA have a distinct phenotype, with features of both M1 and M2 alternative activation. MicroRNAs are critical regulators of monocyte polarization and function, but cellular microRNAs in systemic JIA have not been examined systematically. ⋯ Children with active systemic JIA have profound alterations in the expression of microRNAs that are implicated in monocyte function and polarization. One of these microRNAs, miR-125a-5p, is also a regulator of immunoregulatory M2b macrophages.