Arthritis and rheumatism
-
Arthritis and rheumatism · Mar 2010
Comparative StudyAntibodies to apolipoprotein A-I, high-density lipoprotein, and C-reactive protein are associated with disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Inflammatory disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may affect the development of atherosclerosis, contributing to their increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This process may be mediated by anti-apolipoprotein A-I (anti-Apo A-I), anti-high-density lipoprotein (anti-HDL), and anti-C-reactive protein (anti-CRP) autoantibodies. We undertook this study to examine whether levels of these antibodies rise in association with increased SLE disease activity. ⋯ Persistent disease activity is associated with a significant increase in IgG anti-Apo A-I and anti-HDL in patients with SLE.
-
Arthritis and rheumatism · Mar 2010
Endothelin 1 contributes to the effect of transforming growth factor beta1 on wound repair and skin fibrosis.
To characterize the pathways induced by transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) that lead to the expression of endothelin 1 (ET-1) in human dermal fibroblasts, and to study the effects of TGFbeta1 and ET-1 on the acquisition of a profibrotic phenotype and assess the contribution of the TGFbeta1/ET-1 axis to skin wound healing and fibrosis in vivo. ⋯ Our results strongly support the notion that the TGFbeta1/ET-1 axis has a role in wound repair and skin fibrosis. ET-1 receptor antagonists, such as bosentan, may represent a useful therapeutic tool in the treatment of excessive scarring and fibrosis-related diseases.
-
Arthritis and rheumatism · Mar 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialTwo-year clinical and radiographic results with combination etanercept-methotrexate therapy versus monotherapy in early rheumatoid arthritis: a two-year, double-blind, randomized study.
To evaluate how continuation of and alterations to initial year 1 combination etanercept-methotrexate (MTX) therapy and MTX monotherapy regimens affect long-term remission and radiographic progression in early, active rheumatoid arthritis. ⋯ Early sustained combination etanercept-MTX therapy was consistently superior to MTX monotherapy. Combination therapy resulted in important clinical and radiographic benefits over 2 study years, without significant additional safety risk.
-
An association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FAM167A (previously referred to as C8orf13)-BLK region with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been demonstrated in Caucasians and in Asians. Recent studies have shown that many genes, including IRF5, STAT4, and PTPN22, are shared susceptibility genes in multiple autoimmune diseases. We undertook the current study to examine whether the FAM167A-BLK region is also associated with susceptibility to systemic sclerosis (SSc). ⋯ Our findings indicate that the rs13277113A allele is associated not only with SLE but also with SSc and that the FAM167A-BLK region is a common genetic risk factor for both SLE and SSc.