Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Abnormal T cell differentiation persists in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in clinical remission and predicts relapse.

Lookup NU author(s): Alistair Brown, Professor Jaap Van Laar, Professor John IsaacsORCiD

Downloads


Abstract

Objectives: An abnormal CD4+ T cell subset related to inflammation exposure (inflammation-related cells, IRC) has been identified in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients with inflammatory and non-inflammatory diseases were used to examine the relationship between inflammation and this T cell subset in vivo. Methods: Blood was collected from healthy controls and patients with RA (active disease or in clinical remission), Crohn’s disease and osteoarthritis. IRC and chemokine receptors were quantified by flow cytometry. Thymic activity and apoptotic factors were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Circulating cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CXCR4 and SDF1 in synovial biopsies were measured using immunohistochemistry. Results: IRC were identified in patients with RA (p<0.0001) and Crohn’s disease (p = 0.005), but not in those with osteoarthritis. In RA in remission, IRC persisted (p<0.001). In remission, hyperproliferation of IRC was lost, chemokine receptor expression was significantly lowered (p<0.007), Bax expression dropped significantly (p<0.001) and was inversely correlated with IRC (rho = –0.755, p = 0.03). High IRC frequency in remission was associated with relapse within 18 months (OR = 6.4, p<0.001) and a regression model predicted 72% of relapse. Conclusions: These results suggest a model in which, despite the lack of systemic inflammation, IRC persist in remission, indicating that IRC are an acquired feature of RA. They have, however, lost their hyper-responsiveness, acquired a potential for survival, and no longer express chemokine receptors. IRC persistence in remission confirms their important role in chronic inflammation as circulating precursors of pathogenic cells. This was further demonstrated by much higher incidence of relapse in patients with high IRC frequency in remission.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Burgoyne CH, Field SL, Brown AK, Hensor EM, English A, Bingham SL, Verburg R, Fearon U, Lawson CA, Hamlin PJ, Straszynski L, Veale D, Conaghan P, Hull MA, van Laar JM, Tennant A, Emery P, Isaacs JD, Ponchel F

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

Year: 2008

Volume: 67

Issue: 6

Pages: 750-757

Date deposited: 03/06/2010

ISSN (print): 0003-4967

ISSN (electronic): 1468-2060

Publisher: BMJ Group

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ard.2007.073833

DOI: 10.1136/ard.2007.073833


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share