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Bucci L, Hagen M, Rothe T, Raimondo MG, Fagni F, Tur C, Wirsching A, Wacker J, Wilhelm A, Auger JP, Pachowsky M, Eckstein M, Alivernini S, Zoli A, Krönke G, Uderhardt S, Bozec A, D'Agostino MA, Schett G, Grieshaber-Bouyer R. Bispecific T cell engager therapy for refractory rheumatoid arthritis. Nat Med 2024; 30:1593-1601. [PMID: 38671240 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02964-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Bispecific T cell engagers (BiTEs) kill B cells by engaging T cells. BiTEs are highly effective in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Here we treated six patients with multidrug-resistant rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with the CD19xCD3 BiTE blinatumomab under compassionate use. Low doses of blinatumomab led to B cell depletion and concomitant decrease of T cells, documenting their engager function. Treatment was safe, with brief increase in body temperature and acute phase proteins during first infusion but no signs of clinically relevant cytokine-release syndrome. Blinatumomab led to a rapid decline in RA clinical disease activity in all patients, improved synovitis in ultrasound and FAPI-PET-CT and reduced autoantibodies. High-dimensional flow cytometry analysis of B cells documented an immune reset with depletion of activated memory B cells, which were replaced by nonclass-switched IgD-positive naïve B cells. Together, these data suggest the feasibility and potential for BiTEs to treat RA. This approach warrants further exploration on other B-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bucci
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Melanie Hagen
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tobias Rothe
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maria Gabriella Raimondo
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Filippo Fagni
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Carlo Tur
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli, IRCSS, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Andreas Wirsching
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jochen Wacker
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Artur Wilhelm
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Rheumatology, Charite, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jean-Philippe Auger
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Milena Pachowsky
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus Eckstein
- Department of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefano Alivernini
- Department of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli, IRCSS, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Angelo Zoli
- Department of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli, IRCSS, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Gerhard Krönke
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Rheumatology, Charite, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Uderhardt
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Aline Bozec
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maria-Antonietta D'Agostino
- Department of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli, IRCSS, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Georg Schett
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
- Department of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli, IRCSS, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
- Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Ricardo Grieshaber-Bouyer
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
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Bykerk VP. Clinical implications of synovial tissue phenotypes in rheumatoid arthritis. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 10:1093348. [PMID: 38841268 PMCID: PMC11150787 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1093348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune forms of inflammatory arthritis, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), are clinically heterogeneous in presentation and disease course. Treatment-related outcomes vary despite patient exposure to similar treatment strategies. It is likely that variation seen in synovial pathogenesis influences outcomes and is heterogeneous outcomes influenced by patient factors, including environmental exposures, microbiota, behaviors, timely access to therapy, and synovial cell variation. Patients' unique complex factors manifest as specific synovial phenotypes characterized by clusters of synovial cell types and states. Precision medicine aims to use such clinical and biological data to identify the right treatment for the right patient at the right time, enabling patients to achieve sustained remission. Identifying synovial targets susceptible to a given treatment, enabling the choice of effective therapy for a given patient, will realize the goals of precision medicine. Over the last 7 years, improved acquisition and processing of synovial tissue obtained by ultra-sound guided biopsy has enabled researchers to define synovial pathotypes using histologic features and predominant cell types associated with clinical manifestations. Technical advances have enabled single-cell simultaneous sequencing of proteins and gene expression that, through increasingly sophisticated bioinformatics methods, have taken transcriptional and proteomic data to identify diverse and novel cell types and states that cluster in the RA synovium to further define patient subgroups. Synovial pathotypes and endotypes are now integrated into clinical studies and trials to explain clinical heterogeneity in disease course and treatment response. Rapidly evolving clinical-translational research has linked an expanded understanding of RA synovial pathogenesis with clinically meaningful subgroups and treatment outcomes and the clinical heterogeneity in RA.
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Li M, Lai X, Liu J, Yu Y, Li X, Liu X. Prediction model for treatment response of primary membranous nephropathy with nephrotic syndrome. Clin Exp Nephrol 2024:10.1007/s10157-024-02470-1. [PMID: 38709377 DOI: 10.1007/s10157-024-02470-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the predictors and establish a nomogram model for the prediction of the response to treatment in primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) with nephrotic syndrome (NS). METHODS The clinical, laboratory, pathological and follow-up data of patients with biopsy-proven membranous nephropathy at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University were collected. A total of 373 patients were randomly assigned into development group (n = 262) and validation group (n = 111). Logistic regression analysis was performed in the development group to determine the predictors of treatment response. A nomogram model was established based on the multivariate logistic regression analysis and validated in the validation group. The C-index and calibration plots were used for the evaluation of the discrimination and calibration performance, respectively. RESULTS Serum albumin levels (OR = 1.151, 95% CI 1.078-1.229, P < 0.001) and glomerular C3 deposition (OR = 0.407, 95% CI 0.213-0.775, P = 0.004) were identified as independent predictive factors for treatment response in PMN with NS, then a nomogram was established combining the above indicators and treatment regimen. The C-indices of this model were 0.718 (95% CI 0.654-0.782) and 0.789 (95% CI 0.705-0.873) in the development and validation groups, respectively. The calibration plots showed that the predicted probabilities of the model were consistent with the actual probabilities (P > 0.05), which indicated favorable performance of this model in predicting the treatment response probability. CONCLUSIONS Serum albumin levels and glomerular C3 deposition were predictors for treatment response of PMN with NS. A novel nomogram model with good discrimination and calibration was constructed to predict treatment response probability at an early stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Li
- Department of Nephrology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoying Lai
- Department of Nephrology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Nephrology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yahuan Yu
- Department of Nephrology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xianyi Li
- Department of Nephrology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xuemei Liu
- Department of Nephrology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
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De Stefano L, Bugatti S, Mazzucchelli I, Rossi S, Xoxi B, Bozzalla Cassione E, Luvaro T, Montecucco C, Manzo A. Synovial and serum B cell signature of autoantibody-negative rheumatoid arthritis vs autoantibody-positive rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2024; 63:1322-1331. [PMID: 37481716 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Autoantibody-negative RA differs from autoantibody-positive RA in several clinical aspects, possibly underpinned by pathogenetic differences. At present, the role of adaptive immune responses in autoantibody-negative RA remains unclear. Here, we investigated the synovial and serum immunophenotype indicative of B lymphocyte involvement across the spectrum of autoantibody-positive and -negative chronic arthritides. METHODS Ultrasound-guided synovial biopsies were retrieved from 131 patients: 43 autoantibody-positive RA, 35 autoantibody-negative RA, 25 polyarticular PsA and 28 oligoarticular PsA. Samples were analysed for the degree of histological inflammation, B lymphocyte infiltration and the distribution of different pathotypes (lympho-myeloid, myeloid, pauci-immune). Serum levels of the B cell chemoattractant CXCL13 were compared among groups. RESULTS Synovitis scores and CD68+ sublining macrophage infiltration were comparable irrespective of clinical diagnosis and disease subtype. In contrast, the degree of B lymphocyte infiltration and the frequency of lympho-myeloid synovitis in autoantibody-negative RA were lower than those of autoantibody-positive RA (mean [s.d.] 1.8 [1] vs 2.4 [0.6], P = 0.03, and 38.2% vs 62.9%, P = 0.07, respectively), and similar to polyarticular PsA. Oligoarticular PsA had the lowest B cell scores. Serum CXCL13 was associated with lympho-myeloid synovitis and followed a similar gradient, with the highest levels in autoantibody-positive RA, intermediate and comparable levels in autoantibody-negative RA and polyarticular PsA, and low levels in oligoarticular PsA. CONCLUSIONS The synovial and serum immunophenotype indicative of B lymphocyte involvement in autoantibody-negative RA differs from that of autoantibody-positive RA and more closely resembles that observed in polyarticular PsA. The pathobiological stratification of chronic inflammatory arthritides beyond clinical diagnosis may fuel personalized treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovico De Stefano
- Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories (LaRIT), Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Serena Bugatti
- Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories (LaRIT), Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Iolanda Mazzucchelli
- Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories (LaRIT), Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvia Rossi
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Blerina Xoxi
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Emanuele Bozzalla Cassione
- Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories (LaRIT), Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Terenzj Luvaro
- Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories (LaRIT), Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Carlomaurizio Montecucco
- Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories (LaRIT), Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Antonio Manzo
- Rheumatology and Translational Immunology Research Laboratories (LaRIT), Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
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Chang MH, Fuhlbrigge RC, Nigrovic PA. Joint-specific memory, resident memory T cells and the rolling window of opportunity in arthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2024; 20:258-271. [PMID: 38600215 DOI: 10.1038/s41584-024-01107-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
In rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis and other forms of inflammatory arthritis, the immune system targets certain joints but not others. The pattern of joints affected varies by disease and by individual, with flares most commonly involving joints that were previously inflamed. This phenomenon, termed joint-specific memory, is difficult to explain by systemic immunity alone. Mechanisms of joint-specific memory include the involvement of synovial resident memory T cells that remain in the joint during remission and initiate localized disease recurrence. In addition, arthritis-induced durable changes in synovial fibroblasts and macrophages can amplify inflammation in a site-specific manner. Together with ongoing systemic processes that promote extension of arthritis to new joints, these local factors set the stage for a stepwise progression in disease severity, a paradigm for arthritis chronicity that we term the joint accumulation model. Although durable drug-free remission through early treatment remains elusive for most forms of arthritis, the joint accumulation paradigm defines new therapeutic targets, emphasizes the importance of sustained treatment to prevent disease extension to new joints, and identifies a rolling window of opportunity for altering the natural history of arthritis that extends well beyond the initiation phase of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret H Chang
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert C Fuhlbrigge
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Peter A Nigrovic
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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Wang Y, Jia Y, Qin Y, Feng M, Liang Z, Zhao X, Gao C, Guo H, Luo J. Predicting the risk of interstitial lung disease in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: Novel nomogram and elevated Th2 cells. Mol Immunol 2024; 168:25-37. [PMID: 38382243 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2024.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the most common pulmonary complications in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). This study was performed to identify immunological risk factors of pSS-associated ILD (pSS-ILD) and to further establish and evaluate of nomograms predicting the risk of ILD in patients with pSS. METHODS A total of 622 patients with pSS (117 with ILD and 505 without lung involvement) and 166 healthy control subjects (HCs) were ultimately recruited to this retrospective study. Routine examination indicators, tumour markers and lymphocyte (LYMP) subpopulations were extracted. Simple and multiple logistic regressions analyses were performed to screen for independent predictors. Restricted cubic splines were used to examine associations of independent predictors with ILD, and a risk assessment model was constructed. A nomogram prediction model was developed, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess its performance. RESULTS Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the older age, white blood cell (WBC) count, haemoglobin (HB) level, albumin (ALB) level, CA242 level, and the C-reactive protein (CRP)/LYMP ratio (CLR) were independent predictors of pSS-ILD in a linear manner, these factors were integrated and used to construct a nomogram prediction model. The model had clinical predictive value. In addition, the elevated Th2 cells proportion in pSS patients was significantly positively correlated with lung involvement, while it was negatively correlated with HB and ALB levels. Remarkably, the numbers of Th2 cells were correlated with the CLR in both pSS patients and those with pSS-ILD. CONCLUSIONS Our novel ILD nomogram could be used to assess the risk of ILD in pSS patients with good discrimination ability. As well as, elevated peripheral blood Th2 cell levels may be related to ILD in patients with pSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlin Wang
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Yuhan Jia
- The Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Yan Qin
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Min Feng
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Zhaojun Liang
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Xiangcong Zhao
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China
| | - Chong Gao
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hui Guo
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Shenzhen Baoan shiyan People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518005, China
| | - Jing Luo
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China.
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Weisenfeld D, Zhang F, Donlin L, Jonsson AH, Apruzzese W, Campbell D, Rao DA, Wei K, Holers VM, Gravallese E, Moreland L, Goodman S, Brenner M, Raychaudhuri S, Filer A, Anolik J, Bykerk V, Liao KP. Associations Between Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Factors and Synovial Cell Types and States. Arthritis Rheumatol 2024; 76:356-362. [PMID: 37791989 PMCID: PMC10922423 DOI: 10.1002/art.42726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Recent studies have uncovered diverse cell types and states in the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium; however, limited data exist correlating these findings with patient-level clinical information. Using the largest cohort to date with clinical and multicell data, we determined associations between RA clinical factors with cell types and states in the RA synovium. METHODS The Accelerated Medicines Partnership Rheumatoid Arthritis study recruited patients with active RA who were not receiving disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or who had an inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX) or tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. RA clinical factors were systematically collected. Biopsies were performed on an inflamed joint, and tissue were disaggregated and processed with a cellular indexing of transcriptomes and epitopes sequencing pipeline from which the following cell type percentages and cell type abundance phenotypes (CTAPs) were derived: endothelial, fibroblast, and myeloid (EFM); fibroblasts; myeloid; T and B cells; T cells and fibroblasts (TF); and T and myeloid cells. Correlations were measured between RA clinical factors, cell type percentage, and CTAPs. RESULTS We studied 72 patients (mean age 57 years, 75% women, 83% seropositive, mean RA duration 6.6 years, mean Disease Activity Score-28 C-reactive Protein 3 [DAS28-CRP3] score 4.8). Higher DAS28-CRP3 correlated with a higher T cell percentage (P < 0.01). Those receiving MTX and not a biologic DMARD (bDMARD) had a higher percentage of B cells versus those receiving no DMARDs (P < 0.01). Most of those receiving bDMARDs were categorized as EFM (57%), whereas none were TF. No significant difference was observed across CTAPs for age, sex, RA disease duration, or DAS28-CRP3. CONCLUSION In this comprehensive screen of clinical factors, we observed differential associations between DMARDs and cell phenotypes, suggesting that RA therapies, more than other clinical factors, may impact cell type/state in the synovium and ultimately influence response to subsequent therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Weisenfeld
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fan Zhang
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Center for Health Artificial Intelligence, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Center for Data Sciences, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Laura Donlin
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna Helena Jonsson
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William Apruzzese
- Accelerating Medicines Partnership Program: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (AMP RA/SLE) Network
| | - Debbie Campbell
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | | | - Deepak A. Rao
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kevin Wei
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - V. Michael Holers
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ellen Gravallese
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Larry Moreland
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Susan Goodman
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael Brenner
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Soumya Raychaudhuri
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Data Sciences, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrew Filer
- Rheumatology Research Group, Institute for Inflammation and Ageing, NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Center and Clinical Research Facility, University of Birmingham, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK
- MRC Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research and the Research into Inflammatory Arthritis Centre Versus Arthritis, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jennifer Anolik
- Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Vivian Bykerk
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katherine P. Liao
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Coletto LA, Marino V, Rizzo C, Goulas N, Rubortone P, Verardi L, Gaggiano E, Bruno D, D'Antonio A, Gessi M, Di Mario C, Tolusso B, Bui L, Benvenuto R, Chimenti MS, Guggino G, Ciccia F, Caporali R, Gremese E, Lizzio MM, D'Agostino MA, Alivernini S. Intensive training programme for ultrasound-guided minimally invasive synovial tissue biopsy on knees and wrists in different phases of inflammation. RMD Open 2024; 10:e003705. [PMID: 38351051 PMCID: PMC10868172 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To develop an intensive training programme for ultrasound (US)-guided synovial tissue (ST) biopsy on knees and wrists in inflammatory arthritis and to assess the learning curve, patient tolerability, sample quality and trainees' expectations. METHODS Active or remission rheumatoid arthritis patients were enrolled. Nine trainees joined the 4-month programme in a centre experienced in performing US-guided ST biopsies consisting of four sequential phases: (1) observation, (2) performance of guided step-by-step phases, (3) execution of the whole procedure on paired joints (knees or wrists) of the same patient in parallel with the trainer and (4) performance of the procedure autonomously. Sample representativity was assessed by histology, and procedure-related adverse events were recorded. Before and after the programme, trainees' expectations and perceptions were collected. RESULTS 328 ST biopsy procedures were included. The rate of trainees' informative samples was: (1) comparable to the trainers in active and remission knees, but lower in active wrists (70% for trainees vs 100% for trainers, p=0.06) in phase 3; (2) excellent on active knees and wrists (91.9% and 90.9% respectively) but lower (77.6%, p=0.0089) on remission knees in phase 4. Procedures performed by trainees did not affect patient tolerability. Trainees' expectations about procedure-related invasiveness and pain infliction decreased while the difficulty of procedure execution on active wrists and remission knees remained perceived as moderately difficult. CONCLUSIONS This intensive training programme develops advanced skills in the performance of US-guided ST biopsy on knees and wrists, yielding high-quality specimens available for basic and translational studies on inflammatory joint diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavinia Agra Coletto
- Department of Aging Diseases, Orthopedic and Rheumatology - Division of Rheumatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Marino
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Chiara Rizzo
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Childcare, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Rheumatology Section, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Natacha Goulas
- Department of Aging Diseases, Orthopedic and Rheumatology - Division of Rheumatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Rubortone
- Department of Aging Diseases, Orthopedic and Rheumatology - Division of Rheumatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucrezia Verardi
- Department of Aging Diseases, Orthopedic and Rheumatology - Division of Rheumatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Gaggiano
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Dario Bruno
- Clinical Immunology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Arianna D'Antonio
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology - Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Gessi
- Institute of Pathology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Clara Di Mario
- Immunology Research Core Facility - Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Tolusso
- Immunology Research Core Facility - Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Bui
- Institute of Pathology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Benvenuto
- Institute of Pathology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Sole Chimenti
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology - Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuliana Guggino
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Childcare, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Rheumatology Section, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Ciccia
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberto Caporali
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Research Center for Adult and Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Gaetano Pini-CTO, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Gremese
- Clinical Immunology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Immunology Research Core Facility - Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Maria Lizzio
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria-Antonietta D'Agostino
- Department of Aging Diseases, Orthopedic and Rheumatology - Division of Rheumatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Rome, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Alivernini
- Department of Aging Diseases, Orthopedic and Rheumatology - Division of Rheumatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Rome, Italy
- Immunology Research Core Facility - Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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9
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Garaffoni C, Tamussin M, Calciolari I, Lanza G, Bortoluzzi A, Scirè CA, Govoni M, Silvagni E. High-grade synovitis associates with clinical markers and response to therapy in chronic inflammatory arthritis: post hoc analysis of a synovial biomarkers prospective cohort study. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1298583. [PMID: 38274811 PMCID: PMC10808827 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1298583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Inflammatory arthritis (IAs), such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), are characterized by the presence of chronic synovitis. The Krenn's synovitis score (KSS), a simple tool detectable by haematoxylin/eosin staining of synovial biopsy samples, allows the discrimination between high-grade and low-grade synovitis. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical associations of KSS and to evaluate the relationship between high-grade synovitis and treatment response in IA patients. Methods Clinical, laboratory and ultrasound data were retrieved from RA and PsA patients recruited in the prospective MATRIX cohort study. Inclusion criteria were age≥18 years, RA or PsA diagnosis, and presence of active disease with eligibility to start/modify therapy. Patients underwent ultrasound-guided synovial biopsy of one of the most involved joints before starting/modifying treatment according to treat-to-target strategy. The samples were analysed by an expert pathologist for KSS calculation. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between KSS and baseline variables. The association between KSS and treatment response at 24 weeks of follow-up was investigated in univariable logistic regression analysis. Results 53 patients, 34 RA and 19 PsA, completed 24 weeks of follow-up after synovial biopsy. Patients were either treatment naïve (N=6, 11%), csDMARDs-experienced (N=46, 87%) or b/tsDMARDs-experienced (N=20, 38%). Median KSS was 6.00 (Q1-Q3 4.00-7.00) in RA and 4.00 (3.00-6.00) in PsA (p=0.040), and inflammatory infiltrates score was significantly higher in RA than in PsA patients (median 3.00 vs 2.00, p=0.021). In multivariable analysis, synovial effusion in the biopsied joint (OR 9.26, 95%CI 2.12-53.91) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (OR 1.04, 95%CI 1.01-1.08) associated with high KSS. High-grade synovitis significantly associated with a higher probability of achieving DAS28 remission, ACR20/50 response, and Boolean2.0 remission, independently from diagnosis. Conclusion Several markers of pro-inflammatory pathways associated with the presence of high-grade synovitis, and patients with higher KSS shared a higher probability of treatment targets achievement in the follow up. The integration of a simple and feasible tool like KSS in the clinical and prognostic stratification of patients with IA might help in intercepting patients with a disease more prone to respond to available treatment paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Garaffoni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Marianna Tamussin
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Ilaria Calciolari
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giovanni Lanza
- Anatomic Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alessandra Bortoluzzi
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Carlo Alberto Scirè
- Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Gerardo dei Tintori Foundation, Monza, Italy
- School of Medicine, University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Marcello Govoni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Ettore Silvagni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Ferrara, Italy
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10
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Costi S, Armiraglio E, Pregnolato F, Chighizola CB, Marino A, Randelli PS, Parafioriti A, Caporali R. Diagnostic and prognostic role of synovial tissue analysis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a monocentric study. RMD Open 2023; 9:e003296. [PMID: 38097272 PMCID: PMC10729056 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study investigates the diagnostic role of synovial tissue analysis in children presenting with arthritis and assesses its prognostic significance to predict clinical outcome in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). METHODS Synovial samples of paediatric patients undergoing synovial biopsy between 1995 and 2020 were analysed histologically and immunohistochemically. Relationships between histological/immunohistochemical parameters and clinical variables were assessed. RESULTS Synovial biopsy was performed for diagnosis in 65 cases allowing to correctly classify 79% of patients.At histological analysis on 42 JIA samples, any difference in the number of synovial lining layers, subsynovial elementary lesions, fibrin deposit, Krenn Synovitis Score, inflammatory infiltrate score and pattern emerged between JIA subsets or on treatment exposure. Synovial tissue analysis predicted outcome: higher number of synovial layers predicted worse disease course (>4 flares during follow-up; 4.5 vs 3.0, p=0.035), even after adjusting for age at diagnosis and observation time (OR 2.2, p=0.007); subjects who had switched>2 biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs had higher prevalence of subsynovial elementary lesions (55.6% vs 10.3%, p=0.005) and fibrin deposits in synovial lining (60.0% vs 22.6%, p=0.049), even after adjustment for observation time and age at diagnosis (OR 8.1, p=0.047). At immunohistochemistry on 31 JIA samples, higher CD3 expression was described in polyarticular compared with oligoarticular subset (p=0.040). Patients with severe disease course had higher CD20+ rate (OR 7, p=0.023), regardless of JIA subset and treatment exposure. CONCLUSIONS Synovial tissue analysis might support the clinicians in the diagnostic approach of paediatric patients presenting with arthritis and guide the clinical management in JIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Costi
- Department of Rheumatology and Medical Sciences, Unit of Clinical Pediatric Rheumatology, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Pregnolato
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Cecilia Beatrice Chighizola
- Department of Rheumatology and Medical Sciences, Unit of Clinical Pediatric Rheumatology, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO, Milano, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
| | - Achille Marino
- Department of Rheumatology and Medical Sciences, Unit of Clinical Pediatric Rheumatology, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO, Milano, Italy
| | - Pietro Simone Randelli
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- Department of Orthopedics, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Caporali
- Department of Rheumatology and Medical Sciences, Unit of Clinical Pediatric Rheumatology, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO, Milano, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- Department of Rheumatology and Medical Sciences, Unit of Clinical Rheumatology, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO, Milano, Lombardia, Italy
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11
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Koyama K, Wako M, Ohba T, Nakagomi D, Koizumi R, Haro H. Is histopathological synovitis score a predictor of postoperative requirement for additional or alternative drug treatment in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis? Mod Rheumatol 2023; 33:906-910. [PMID: 36069644 DOI: 10.1093/mr/roac108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Histopathological synovitis scoring is useful for assessing activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at sampling, but it is unclear whether it can be a predictor of future drug treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine whether histopathological synovitis score is a predictor of postoperative requirement for additional or alternative drug treatment after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS Thirty patients with RA in whom synovial samples were obtained during TKA were included. Patients were divided into the drug treatment enhanced group (EG), which included patients who needed additional or alternative drug treatment within 1 year after TKA, and the drug treatment maintenance group (MG). The Rooney synovitis score (RSS) was compared between groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to clarify prognostic factors for postoperative drug treatment change. RESULTS The total RSS was significantly higher in the EG than in the MG (29.3 vs 15.1; P < .001). Multivariate analysis showed that total RSS and swollen joint counts were independent variable associated with postoperative requirement for additional or alternative drug treatment (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Histopathological synovitis scoring may predict requirement for additional or alternative drug treatment in patients with RA after TKA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kensuke Koyama
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
- Centre for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Masanori Wako
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Ohba
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Daiki Nakagomi
- Centre for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
- Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Ryousuke Koizumi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
- Centre for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Haro
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
- Centre for Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
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12
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Perniola S, Chimenti MS, Spinelli FR, Frediani B, Foti R, Ferrigno S, Garufi C, Cassone G, Venerito V, Atzeni F, Caporali R, Conti F, Favalli EG, Iannone F, Sebastiani M, Ferraccioli GF, Lapadula G, Gremese E. Rheumatoid Arthritis from Easy to Complex Disease: From the "2022 GISEA International Symposium". J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12082781. [PMID: 37109118 PMCID: PMC10143148 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12082781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease with many different clinical phenotypes. RA could be classified according to disease duration, seropositivity for rheumatoid factor (RF) and/or anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), joint subtype, clinical behaviourbehavior and many other subgroups. In this review, we summarize and discuss the multifaceted aspects of RA, focusing on the relationship between autoimmunity status and clinical outcome, achievement of remission and influence on treatment response, from the 2022 International GISEA/OEG Symposium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Perniola
- Immunology Research Core Facility, Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS-Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore-Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Sole Chimenti
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of "Medicina dei Sistemi", University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Romana Spinelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Internistiche, Anestesiologiche e Cardiovascolari-Reumatologia, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Frediani
- Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Rosario Foti
- Rheumatology Unit, San Marco Hospital, Policlinico University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
| | - Sara Ferrigno
- Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Department of "Medicina dei Sistemi", University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Garufi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Internistiche, Anestesiologiche e Cardiovascolari-Reumatologia, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Cassone
- Rheumatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Policlinico di Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Venerito
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Rheumatology Unit, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Fabiola Atzeni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Experimental and Internal Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Roberto Caporali
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Sciences, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Conti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Internistiche, Anestesiologiche e Cardiovascolari-Reumatologia, Sapienza Università di Roma, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Ennio Giulio Favalli
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Sciences, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO, 20126 Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Florenzo Iannone
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Rheumatology Unit, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Marco Sebastiani
- Rheumatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Policlinico di Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Gian Franco Ferraccioli
- Immunology Research Core Facility, Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS-Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Lapadula
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Rheumatology Unit, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Elisa Gremese
- Immunology Research Core Facility, Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS-Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore-Rome, 00168 Rome, Italy
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13
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Vitale A, Alivernini S, Caporali R, Cassone G, Bruno D, Cantarini L, Lopalco G, Rossini M, Atzeni F, Favalli EG, Conti F, Gremese E, Iannone F, Ferraccioli GF, Lapadula G, Sebastiani M. From Bench to Bedside in Rheumatoid Arthritis from the "2022 GISEA International Symposium". J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12020527. [PMID: 36675455 PMCID: PMC9863451 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12020527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
While precision medicine is still a challenge in rheumatic disease, in recent years many advances have been made regarding pathogenesis, the treatment of inflammatory arthropathies, and their interaction. New insight into the role of inflammasome and synovial tissue macrophage subsets as predictors of drug response give hope for future tailored therapeutic strategies and a personalized medicine approach in inflammatory arthropathies. Here, we discuss the main pathogenetic mechanisms and therapeutic approaches towards precision medicine in rheumatoid arthritis from the 2022 International GISEA/OEG Symposium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Vitale
- Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery and Neurosciences, Research Center of Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases and Behçet’s Disease Clinic, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Stefano Alivernini
- Immunology Research Core Facility, Gemelli Science and Technology Park, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, RM, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, RM, Italy
| | - Roberto Caporali
- Division of Clinical Rheumatology, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO Institute, 20122 Milano, MI, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Research Center for Pediatric and Adult Rheumatic Diseases (RECAP.RD), University of Milan, 20122 Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Giulia Cassone
- Rheumatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Policlinico di Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, MO, Italy
| | - Dario Bruno
- Immunology Research Core Facility, Gemelli Science and Technology Park, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, RM, Italy
| | - Luca Cantarini
- Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery and Neurosciences, Research Center of Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases and Behçet’s Disease Clinic, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, SI, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lopalco
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Emergency Surgery and Organ Transplantations, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, BA, Italy
| | - Maurizio Rossini
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Policlinico G.B. Rossi, Piazzale A. Scuro, 37134 Verona, VR, Italy
| | - Fabiola Atzeni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Experimental and Internal Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, ME, Italy
| | - Ennio Giulio Favalli
- Division of Clinical Rheumatology, ASST Gaetano Pini-CTO Institute, 20122 Milano, MI, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Research Center for Pediatric and Adult Rheumatic Diseases (RECAP.RD), University of Milan, 20122 Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Conti
- Lupus Clinic, Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Internistiche, Anestesiologiche e Cardiovascolari, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, RM, Italy
| | - Elisa Gremese
- Immunology Research Core Facility, Gemelli Science and Technology Park, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, RM, Italy
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Florenzo Iannone
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Emergency Surgery and Organ Transplantations, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, BA, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Lapadula
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Emergency Surgery and Organ Transplantations, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, BA, Italy
| | - Marco Sebastiani
- Rheumatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Policlinico di Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, MO, Italy
- Correspondence:
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14
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Gremese E, Tolusso B, Bruno D, Perniola S, Ferraccioli G, Alivernini S. The forgotten key players in rheumatoid arthritis: IL-8 and IL-17 - Unmet needs and therapeutic perspectives. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:956127. [PMID: 37035302 PMCID: PMC10073515 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.956127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the relevant advances in our understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms regulating inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the development of effective therapeutics, to date, there is still a proportion of patients with RA who do not respond to treatment and end up progressing toward the development of joint damage, extra-articular complications, and disability. This is mainly due to the inter-individual heterogeneity of the molecular and cellular taxonomy of the synovial membrane, which represents the target tissue of RA inflammation. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are crucial key players in RA pathogenesis fueling the inflammatory cascade, as supported by experimental evidence derived from in vivo animal models and the effectiveness of biologic-Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (b-DMARDs) in patients with RA. However, additional inflammatory soluble mediators such as IL-8 and IL-17 exert their pathogenetic actions promoting the detrimental activation of immune and stromal cells in RA synovial membrane, tendons, and extra-articular sites, as well as blood vessels and lungs, causing extra-articular complications, which might be excluded by the action of anti-TNFα and anti-IL6R targeted therapies. In this narrative review, we will discuss the role of IL-8 and IL-17 in promoting inflammation in multiple biological compartments (i.e., synovial membrane, blood vessels, and lung, respectively) in animal models of arthritis and patients with RA and how their selective targeting could improve the management of treatment resistance in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Gremese
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Immunology Core Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- School of Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Elisa Gremese, Gianfranco Ferraccioli
| | - Barbara Tolusso
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Immunology Core Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Dario Bruno
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Simone Perniola
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Ferraccioli
- School of Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Elisa Gremese, Gianfranco Ferraccioli
| | - Stefano Alivernini
- Immunology Core Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- School of Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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15
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Alivernini S, Firestein GS, McInnes IB. The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Immunity 2022; 55:2255-2270. [PMID: 36516818 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2022.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Significant recent progress in understanding rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis has led to improved treatment and quality of life. The introduction of targeted-biologic and -synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) has also transformed clinical outcomes. Despite this, RA remains a life-long disease without a cure. Unmet needs include partial response and non-response to treatment in many patients, failure to achieve immune homeostasis or drug free remission, and inability to repair damaged tissues. RA is now recognized as the end of a multi-year prodromal phase in which systemic immune dysregulation, likely beginning in mucosal surfaces, is followed by a symptomatic clinical phase. Inflammation and immune reactivity are primarily localized to the synovium leading to pain and articular damage, but is also associated with a broader series of comorbidities. Here, we review recently described immunologic mechanisms that drive breach of tolerance, chronic synovitis, and remission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Alivernini
- Immunology Research Core Facility, Gemelli Science and Technology Park, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Division of Rheumatology - Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Gary S Firestein
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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16
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Sun Z, Wang F, Chen J, Liu X, Sun J, Sui Y, Zhang X, Shu Q. Establishment and verification of a nomogram and a preliminary study on predicting the clinical response of conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis patients. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2022; 10:1365. [PMID: 36660697 PMCID: PMC9843374 DOI: 10.21037/atm-22-5791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoinflammatory disease, its core treatment principle is to achieve remission as soon as possible. There is no good prediction model that can accurately predict the remission rate of patients to choose a good treatment scheme. Here, we aimed to verify the prognostic value of some inflammatory indicators in RA and establish a prediction model to predict the remission rate after treatment. Methods A total of 223 patients were enrolled at Qilu Hospital from June 2014 to June 2020. Baseline clinical data were collected and plasma was obtained to detect the inflammatory indicators. All patients were treated with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs). All patients were followed up and were recorded the time to reach the disease activity score-28 with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) of <2.6. A total of 156 patients were randomly assigned to the development cohort, and 67 patients were assigned to the validation cohort. Inflammatory indicators in plasma were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The predictive factors were screeded by using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and Cox regression. The model was created and verified by using the standard method. A total of 6 independent risk factors were analyzed to construct a nomogram to predict the remission rate in 3, 6 and 12 months. Results The remission rates after treatment in 3, 6 and 12 months were 38.76%, 58.91%, and 81.40%, respectively. Patient age, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, galectin-9 (Gal-9), health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), and DAS28-ESR were included in the prognostic model to predict the remission rate. The resulting model had good discrimination ability in both the development cohort (C-index, 0.729) and the validation cohort (C-index, 0.710). Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration analysis, and decision curve analysis (DCA) showed that the model has significant discriminant power and clinical practicability in predicting the remission rate. Conclusions We established a new predictive model and validated it. The model can predict the remission rate in 3, 6 and 12 months after receiving csDMARDs treatment. By using this model, we can facilitate the identification of high-risk patients early and intervene with them as soon as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijian Sun
- Department of Rheumatology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Feiying Wang
- Department of Hematology, Women and Children’s Hospital, Qingdao, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Rheumatology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China;,Department of Rheumatology, Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Immune Diseases and Gout, Jinan, China
| | - Xinlei Liu
- Department of Rheumatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiao Sun
- Department of Nephrology and Immunology, Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Yameng Sui
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Xiaojie Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China;,Department of Rheumatology, Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Immune Diseases and Gout, Jinan, China
| | - Qiang Shu
- Department of Rheumatology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China;,Department of Rheumatology, Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Immune Diseases and Gout, Jinan, China
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17
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Kurowska-Stolarska M, Alivernini S. Synovial tissue macrophages in joint homeostasis, rheumatoid arthritis and disease remission. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2022; 18:384-397. [PMID: 35672464 DOI: 10.1038/s41584-022-00790-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Synovial tissue macrophages (STMs) were principally recognized as having a pro-inflammatory role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), serving as the main producers of pathogenic tumour necrosis factor (TNF). Recent advances in single-cell omics have facilitated the discovery of distinct STM populations, providing an atlas of discrete phenotypic clusters in the context of healthy and inflamed joints. Interrogation of the functions of distinct STM populations, via ex vivo and experimental mouse models, has re-defined our understanding of STM biology, opening up new opportunities to better understand the pathology of the arthritic joint. These works have identified STM subpopulations that form a protective lining barrier within the synovial membrane and actively participate in the remission of RA. We discuss how distinct functions of STM clusters shape the synovial tissue environment in health, during inflammation and in disease remission, as well as how an increased understanding of STM heterogeneity might aid the prediction of clinical outcomes and inform novel treatments for RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariola Kurowska-Stolarska
- Research into Inflammatory Arthritis Centre Versus Arthritis (RACE), Glasgow, UK.
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Stefano Alivernini
- Research into Inflammatory Arthritis Centre Versus Arthritis (RACE), Glasgow, UK.
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
- Division of Rheumatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
- Immunology Research Core Facility, Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP), Rome, Italy.
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18
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Elisa G, Tolusso B, Petricca L, Di Mario C, Gigante MR, Ferraccioli G, Alivernini S. Peripheral blood CD4 posCD25 posFoxP3 pos cells and inflammatory cytokines as biomarkers of response in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with CTLA4-Ig. Arthritis Res Ther 2022; 24:143. [PMID: 35706043 PMCID: PMC9199213 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-022-02827-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prognostic biomarkers of treatment response to distinct biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (b-DMARDs) are still lacking within the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS Thirty-four b-DMARDs naive RA patients, divided by disease duration into early (cohort 1) and long standing (cohort 2), received CTLA4-Ig. At study entry, and every 3 months for 1 year, each patient underwent peripheral blood (PB)-derived CD4pos cell subpopulation assessment by flow cytometry, STAT3 and STAT5 expression by RT-PCR and IL-6, IL-12p70, TGFβ, and IL-10 serum levels by ELISA. The DAS and CDAI remission was assessed at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS DAS- and CDAI-defined remission within 12 months was achieved by 16 (47.1%) and 8 (23.5%) RA patients, respectively. Considering the whole RA cohort, CTLA4-Ig induced a significant decrease of IL-6 serum levels from baseline to 6 and 12 months, as well as of PB CD4posCD25posFoxP3pos cells at 6 and 12 months, and of CD4posIL17pos cells after 12 months. PB CD4pos cells of RA patients showed higher STAT3 and STAT5 expression than healthy controls, which remained unchanged within 12 months of treatment. At study entry, RA patients achieving DAS remission had significantly lower IL-6 serum levels than RA patients not achieving this outcome. In particular, having baseline IL-6 serum levels ≤ 8.4 pg/ml, significantly identified naïve to b-DMARDs RA patients more likely to achieve DAS-remission under CTLA4-Ig at 6 months (66.7%) compared to RA patients with baseline IL-6 serum levels > 8.4 pg/ml [15.4%, OR (95%Cis) 11.00 (1.75-55.82)]. Moreover, having CD4posCD25posFoxP3pos cells rate ≥ 6.0% significantly identifies naïve to b-DMARDs early RA patients more likely to achieve DAS remission at 6 months (83.3%) compared to RA patients with baseline CD4posCD25posFoxP3pos cells < 6.0% [16.7%, OR (95% Cis) 25.00 (1.00-336.81)]. CONCLUSIONS Baseline IL-6 serum levels and peripheral blood-derived CD4pos subpopulations are putative novel prognostic biomarkers of CTLA4-Ig response in RA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gremese Elisa
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Via Giuseppe Moscati 31, 00168, Rome, Italy. .,Immunology Core Facility, Gemelli Science Technological Park, GSTeP, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy. .,Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
| | - Barbara Tolusso
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Via Giuseppe Moscati 31, 00168, Rome, Italy.,Immunology Core Facility, Gemelli Science Technological Park, GSTeP, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Petricca
- Division of Rheumatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Clara Di Mario
- Immunology Core Facility, Gemelli Science Technological Park, GSTeP, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Gigante
- Division of Rheumatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Alivernini
- Immunology Core Facility, Gemelli Science Technological Park, GSTeP, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy. .,Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. .,Division of Rheumatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 1, 00168, Rome, Italy.
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19
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Farina L, Minnone G, Alivernini S, Caiello I, MacDonald L, Soligo M, Manni L, Tolusso B, Coppola S, Zara E, Conti LA, Aquilani A, Magni-Manzoni S, Kurowska-Stolarska M, Gremese E, De Benedetti F, Bracci-Laudiero L. Pro Nerve Growth Factor and Its Receptor p75NTR Activate Inflammatory Responses in Synovial Fibroblasts: A Novel Targetable Mechanism in Arthritis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:818630. [PMID: 35309353 PMCID: PMC8931659 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.818630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We have recently provided new evidence for a role of p75NTR receptor and its preferential ligand proNGF in amplifying inflammatory responses in synovial mononuclear cells of chronic arthritis patients. In the present study, to better investigate how activation of the p75NTR/proNGF axis impacts synovial inflammation, we have studied the effects of proNGF on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), which play a central role in modulating local immune responses and in activating pro-inflammatory pathways. Using single cell RNA sequencing in synovial tissues from active and treatment-naïve rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, we demonstrated that p75NTR and sortilin, which form a high affinity receptor complex for proNGF, are highly expressed in PRG4pos lining and THY1posCOL1A1pos sublining fibroblast clusters in RA synovia but decreased in RA patients in sustained clinical remission. In ex vivo experiments we found that FLS from rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA-FLS) retained in vitro a markedly higher expression of p75NTR and sortilin than FLS from osteoarthritis patients (OA-FLS). Inflammatory stimuli further up-regulated p75NTR expression and induced endogenous production of proNGF in RA-FLS, leading to an autocrine activation of the proNGF/p75NTR pathway that results in an increased release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our data on the inhibition of p75NTR receptor, which reduced the release of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, further confirmed the key role of p75NTR activation in regulating inflammatory cytokine production. In a set of ex vivo experiments, we used RA-FLS and cultured them in the presence of synovial fluids obtained from arthritis patients that, as we demonstrated, are characterized by a high concentration of proNGF. Our data show that the high levels of proNGF present in inflamed synovial fluids induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production by RA-FLS. The blocking of NGF binding to p75NTR using specific inhibitors led instead to the disruption of this pro-inflammatory loop, reducing activation of the p38 and JNK intracellular pathways and decreasing inflammatory cytokine production. Overall, our data demonstrate that an active proNGF/p75NTR axis promotes pro-inflammatory responses in synovial fibroblasts, thereby contributing to chronic synovial inflammation, and point to the possible use of p75NTR inhibitors as a novel therapeutic approach in chronic arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciapia Farina
- Department of Immunology, Laboratory of ImmunoRheumatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Gaetana Minnone
- Department of Immunology, Laboratory of ImmunoRheumatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Alivernini
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivan Caiello
- Department of Immunology, Laboratory of ImmunoRheumatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Lucy MacDonald
- Inflammatory Arthritis Centre Versus Arthritis (RACE), Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Marzia Soligo
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT-CNR), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Manni
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT-CNR), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Tolusso
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Coppola
- National Centre for Rare Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanita’, Rome, Italy
| | - Erika Zara
- National Centre for Rare Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanita’, Rome, Italy
| | - Libenzio Adrian Conti
- Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Research Center, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Aquilani
- Division of Rheumatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Magni-Manzoni
- Division of Rheumatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Mariola Kurowska-Stolarska
- Inflammatory Arthritis Centre Versus Arthritis (RACE), Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Elisa Gremese
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio De Benedetti
- Department of Immunology, Laboratory of ImmunoRheumatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Bracci-Laudiero
- Department of Immunology, Laboratory of ImmunoRheumatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT-CNR), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
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20
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Najm A, Costantino F, Alivernini S, Alunno A, Bianchi E, Bignall J, Boyce B, Canete JD, Carubbi F, Durez P, Fonseca JE, Just SA, Largo R, Manzo A, Maybury M, Naredo E, Orr C, Pitzalis C, Rivellese F, Romão VC, van Rompay J, Tas SW, Veale DJ, D'Agostino MA, Filer A. EULAR points to consider for minimal reporting requirements in synovial tissue research in rheumatology. Ann Rheum Dis 2022; 81:1640-1646. [PMID: 35210263 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-221875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Synovial tissue research has become widely developed in several rheumatology centres, however, large discrepancies exist in the way synovial tissue is handled and, more specifically, how data pertaining to biopsy procedure, quality check and experimental results are reported in the literature. This heterogeneity hampers the progress of research in this rapidly expanding field. In that context, under the umbrella of European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology, we aimed at proposing points to consider (PtC) for minimal reporting requirements in synovial tissue research. METHODS Twenty-five members from 10 countries across Europe and USA met virtually to define the key areas needing evaluation and formulating the research questions to inform a systematic literature review (SLR). The results were presented during a second virtual meeting where PtC were formulated and agreed. RESULTS Study design, biopsy procedures, tissue handling, tissue quality control and tissue outcomes (imaging, DNA/RNA analysis and disaggregation) were identified as important aspects for the quality of synovial tissue research. The SLR interrogated four databases, retrieved 7654 abstracts and included 26 manuscripts. Three OPs and nine PtC were formulated covering the following areas: description of biopsy procedure, overarching clinical design, patient characteristics, tissue handling and processing, quality control, histopathology, transcriptomic analyses and single-cell technologies. CONCLUSIONS These PtC provide guidance on how research involving synovial tissue should be reported to ensure a better evaluation of results by readers, reviewers and the broader scientific community. We anticipate that these PtC will enable the field to progress in a robust and transparent manner over the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Najm
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow, UK
| | - Félicie Costantino
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm U1173, Infection et Inflammation, Laboratory of Excellence Inflamex, Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, France.,Rheumatology Department, AP-HP, Boulogne-billancourt, Paris, France
| | - Stefano Alivernini
- UOC di Reumatologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Alunno
- Internal Medicine and Nephrology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine Life Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Elettra Bianchi
- Department of Pathology, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Central University Hospital of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Jacqueline Bignall
- Rheumatology Patient Group, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Brendan Boyce
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Juan D Canete
- Arthritis Unit, Rheumatology Dpt, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.,Joint and Bone Research Unit. Rheumatology Dept, Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francesco Carubbi
- Internal Medicine and Nephrology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine Life Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.,Department of Medicine, San Salvatore Hospital, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Patrick Durez
- Pôle de Recherche en Rhumatologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain Secteur des sciences de la santé, Bruxelles, Belgium.,Pôle de Recherche en Rhumatologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - João Eurico Fonseca
- Serviço de Reumatologia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Søren Andreas Just
- Department of Rheumatology, Bone and Joint Research Unit, Odense Universitetshospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Raquel Largo
- Joint and Bone Research Unit. Rheumatology Dept, Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.,Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Manzo
- Translational Immunology Research Laboratories (LaRIT), Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Mark Maybury
- Rheumatology Research Group and Research into Inflammatory Arthritis Centre Versus Arthritis, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Center, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Esperanza Naredo
- Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, IIS Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Rheumatology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carl Orr
- Centre for Arthritis and Rheumatic Disease, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,The Conway Institute, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Costantino Pitzalis
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry William Harvey Research Institute, London, UK
| | - Felice Rivellese
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry William Harvey Research Institute, London, UK
| | - Vasco C Romão
- Serviço de Reumatologia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jef van Rompay
- Patient Research Partners, Antwerp Province, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Sander W Tas
- Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Douglas J Veale
- Centre for Arthritis and Rheumatic Disease, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.,The Conway Institute, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Maria-Antonietta D'Agostino
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm U1173, Infection et Inflammation, Laboratory of Excellence Inflamex, Montigny-Le-Bretonneux, France.,UOC di Reumatologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrew Filer
- Rheumatology Research Group and Research into Inflammatory Arthritis Centre Versus Arthritis, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Center, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
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21
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Najm A, Costantino F, Weill C, Filer A, D'Agostino MA. Impact of synovial biopsy procedures and disease-specific aspects on synovial tissue outcome: a systematic literature review informing the EULAR points to consider for the minimal reporting requirements in synovial tissue research in rheumatology. RMD Open 2022; 8:rmdopen-2021-002116. [PMID: 35177556 PMCID: PMC8860072 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2021-002116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this work was to summarise the literature evaluating the impact of biopsy procedures, tissue handling, tissue quality and disease-specific aspects including joint biopsied and disease stage, on synovial tissue outcome. METHODS Two reviewers independently identified eligible studies according to the Patients, Intervention, Comparator and Outcome framework obtained for five research questions formulated during the first EULAR task force meeting to produce points to consider (PtC) for minimal reporting requirements in synovial tissue studies. The databases explored were Medline, Embase, CENTRAL and Cinhal. The risk of bias of each study was evaluated using an adapted version of the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies. RESULTS Of the 7654 records yielded, 75 full texts were assessed, leading to the inclusion of 26 manuscripts in the systematic literature review (SLR). Two papers assessed the impact of biopsy procedures on the quality and quantity of tissue retrieved alongside patient tolerability; six papers focused on synovial tissue variability. Four papers studied the impact of sample handling or randomisation and 14 assessed the impact of disease stage and state, namely early or established active rheumatoid arthritis and remission on histopathological and transcriptomic results. CONCLUSIONS This SLR informs the EULAR PtC for minimal reporting requirements in synovial tissue research in rheumatology. Characteristics related to the study design, population, sample handling, randomisation and analysis can affect the final synovial tissue outcome in the studies reviewed. Thus, accurate reporting of these factors is required in order to ensure the scientific validity of manuscripts describing synovial tissue outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Najm
- Musculoskeletal Research Group, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, Glasgow, UK
| | - Félicie Costantino
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm U1173, Infection et inflammation, Laboratory of excellence Inflamex, Paris, Île-de-France, France.,Rheumatology Department, Ambroise Paré Hospital, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
| | - Catherine Weill
- Medicine, University of Paris Health Interuniversity Library, Paris, Île-de-France, France
| | - Andrew Filer
- Rheumatology Research Group and Research into Inflammatory Arthritis Centre Versus Arthritis, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Maria Antonieta D'Agostino
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm U1173, Infection et inflammation, Laboratory of excellence Inflamex, Paris, Île-de-France, France.,Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Lazio, Italy
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