PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Rita A. Moura
AU  - Helena Canhão
AU  - Joaquim Polido-Pereira
AU  - Ana M. Rodrigues
AU  - Márcio Navalho
AU  - Ana F. Mourão
AU  - Catarina Resende
AU  - Raquel Campanilho-Marques
AU  - João Madruga Dias
AU  - José Alberto Pereira da Silva
AU  - Luis Graca
AU  - João E. Fonseca
TI  - BAFF and TACI Gene Expression Are Increased in Patients with Untreated Very Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
AID  - 10.3899/jrheum.121110
DP  - 2013 Aug 01
TA  - The Journal of Rheumatology
PG  - 1293--1302
VI  - 40
IP  - 8
4099  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/40/8/1293.short
4100  - http://www.jrheum.org/content/40/8/1293.full
SO  - J Rheumatol2013 Aug 01; 40
AB  - Objective. B cells play important roles in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Given the beneficial effect of B cell depletion therapy in RA as well as the observed alterations in B cell subpopulations in this disease, we evaluated whether changes in the expression of genes related to B cell survival and activation were already present in patients with untreated very early RA (VERA; < 6 weeks of disease duration). Methods. The expression of a group of B cell-related activation and survival genes was quantified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with VERA by real-time PCR and compared with untreated early RA (< 1 year), established treated RA, and other untreated early arthritis conditions. Serum B cell-activating factor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) was quantified by ELISA. Results. BAFF gene expression and serum levels were highest in patients with VERA. The expression of BAFF receptor (BAFF-R) increased with disease progression, while transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) was elevated since the first weeks of RA onset. Paired box 5 gene expression was also increased at all RA stages. Chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 5 was elevated only in established RA. No differences were observed in B cell maturation antigen, activation-induced cytidine deaminase, B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein, and B cell lymphoma 2 expression. Conclusion. Disturbances in the expression of B cell-related activation and survival genes, particularly BAFF and TACI, occur from the onset of RA and precede changes in BAFF-R. These alterations can lead to the development of autoreactive B cells from the first weeks of RA onset.