RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 BAFF and TACI Gene Expression Are Increased in Patients with Untreated Very Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 1293
OP 1302
DO 10.3899/jrheum.121110
VO 40
IS 8
A1 Rita A. Moura
A1 Helena Canhão
A1 Joaquim Polido-Pereira
A1 Ana M. Rodrigues
A1 Márcio Navalho
A1 Ana F. Mourão
A1 Catarina Resende
A1 Raquel Campanilho-Marques
A1 João Madruga Dias
A1 José Alberto Pereira da Silva
A1 Luis Graca
A1 João E. Fonseca
YR 2013
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/40/8/1293.abstract
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.