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Selickaja S, Galindo-Feria AS, Dani L, Mimori T, Rönnelid J, Holmqvist M, Lundberg IE, Venalis P. ELISA, protein immunoprecipitation and line blot assays for anti-TIF1-gamma autoantibody detection in cancer-associated dermatomyositis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2022; 61:4991-4996. [PMID: 35579337 PMCID: PMC9707101 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Anti-TIF1-gamma autoantibodies can be detected with immunoprecipitation (IP), line blot (LB) and ELISA. We compared assay performance in patients with DM and the potential of these assays to detect anti-TIF1-gamma positive cancer-associated DM (CADM). METHODS We included sera from 131 patients with DM followed at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden and 82 healthy controls. Serum samples taken at DM diagnosis were tested for anti-TIF1-gamma autoantibodies with IP, two ELISAs (in-house and commercial) and LB. Cancer diagnosis and dates were obtained from the Swedish national cancer register. CADM was defined as a malignancy that developed within 3 years of DM diagnosis. RESULTS Anti-TIF1-gamma autoantibodies were detected in 19/101 (18.8%), 15/113 (13.2%), 34/131 (26%) and 45/131 (34.4%) of the patients with IP, LB, in-house and commercial ELISA, respectively. The anti-TIF1-gamma results from the in-house ELISA were confirmed with IP in 93 of 101 (92%) cases, κ = 0.76, with a commercial ELISA in 110 of 131 (84%) cases, κ = 0.63, and with LB in 101 of 113 (89.3%) cases, κ = 0.67. Anti-TIF1-gamma results with IP were confirmed with LB in 85 of 92 (92.4%) cases, κ = 0.73. For detecting CADM, the anti-TIF1-gamma in-house ELISA had a sensitivity of 58% and specificity of 86%, the commercial ELISA had a sensitivity of 63% and specificity of 82%, IP had a sensitivity of 52% and specificity of 92%, LB had a sensitivity of 40% and specificity of 96%. CONCLUSION The two anti-TIF1-gamma ELISA assays had advantages both for autoantibody detection and to identify anti-TIF1-gamma-positive CADM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Selickaja
- Correspondence to: Sandra Selickaja, Center for Innovative Medicine, Santariskiu st. 5, Vilnius LT-08410, Lithuania. E-mail:
| | - Angeles S Galindo-Feria
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet,Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna
| | - Lara Dani
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet,Division of Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tsuneyo Mimori
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Kyoto University Graduate school of Medicine,Ijinkai Takeda General Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Johan Rönnelid
- Department Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala
| | - Marie Holmqvist
- Division of Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden,Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet
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Venalis P, Selickaja S, Lundberg K, Rugiene R, Lundberg IE. Association of Anti-Transcription Intermediary Factor 1γ Antibodies With Paraneoplastic Rheumatic Syndromes Other Than Dermatomyositis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2018; 70:648-651. [DOI: 10.1002/acr.23325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Paulius Venalis
- Karolinska Institutet, Solna; Karolinska University Hospital; Center for Molecular Medicine, and Region Västmanland, Reumatologkliniken, Västmanlands sjukhus Västerås, Stockholm; Sweden
| | - Sandra Selickaja
- Vilnius University and State Research Institute for Innovative Medicine; Vilnius Lithuania
| | - Karin Lundberg
- Karolinska Institutet, Solna; Karolinska University Hospital, and Center for Molecular Medicine; Stockholm Sweden
| | - Rita Rugiene
- Vilnius University and State Research Institute for Innovative Medicine; Vilnius Lithuania
| | - Ingrid E. Lundberg
- Karolinska Institutet, Solna; Karolinska University Hospital, and Center for Molecular Medicine; Stockholm Sweden
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Pandya JM, Venalis P, Al-Khalili L, Shahadat Hossain M, Stache V, Lundberg IE, Malmström V, Fasth AER. CD4+ and CD8+ CD28(null) T Cells Are Cytotoxic to Autologous Muscle Cells in Patients With Polymyositis. Arthritis Rheumatol 2017; 68:2016-26. [PMID: 26895511 DOI: 10.1002/art.39650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Inflammatory T cell infiltrates in the skeletal muscle tissue of patients with polymyositis are dominated by CD28-negative effector (CD28(null) ) T cells of both the CD4 and CD8 lineage. These cells are potentially cytotoxic, and the aim of the present study was to develop a fully autologous cell culture system in which to investigate the functional contribution of such CD28(null) T cells to myotoxicity. METHODS In vitro cocultures of autologous skeletal muscle cells and T cell subsets obtained from 5 polymyositis patients were performed. Myotoxicity of T cells was quantified by calcein release and flow cytometric analyses. T cell degranulation was blocked with concanamycin A. Specific blocking of perforin, cytokines, and HLA was performed using antibodies. RESULTS Both CD4+CD28(null) and CD8+CD28(null) T cells induced more muscle cell death than did their CD28+ counterparts. Differentiated muscle cells (myotubes) were more sensitive to T cell-mediated cell death than were their precursors (myoblasts). Both CD8+ and CD4+ CD28(null) T cells displayed perforin polarization toward muscle cells and secreted higher levels of granzyme B and interferon-γ (IFNγ) in coculture than did CD28+ T cells. The myotoxic effects of CD28(null) T cells were reduced upon the blocking of perforin, cytokines, and HLA. Addition of IFNγ or tumor necrosis factor did not induce skeletal muscle cell death in the absence of T cells; however, it did up-regulate HLA expression on muscle cells. CONCLUSION Myotoxicity of CD4+ and CD8+ CD28(null) T cells is mediated by directed perforin-dependent killing and can be further influenced by IFNγ-induced HLA expression on muscle cells. The data suggest that CD28(null) T cells are key effector cells that contribute to the muscle cell damage in polymyositis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayesh M Pandya
- Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Sweden, and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Paulius Venalis
- Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Sweden, and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Vanessa Stache
- Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Sweden, and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ingrid E Lundberg
- Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Sweden, and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vivianne Malmström
- Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Sweden, and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andreas E R Fasth
- Andreas E. R. Fasth, PhD: Karolinska lnstitutet, Schering-Plough, MSD, and Novartis, Stockholm, Sweden
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Venalis P, Kumánovics G, Schulze‐Koops H, Distler A, Dees C, Zerr P, Palumbo‐Zerr K, Czirják L, Mackevic Z, Lundberg IE, Distler O, Schett G, Distler JHW. Cardiomyopathy in Murine Models of Systemic Sclerosis. Arthritis Rheumatol 2015; 67:508-16. [DOI: 10.1002/art.38942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paulius Venalis
- Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden, Karolinska InstituteStockholmSweden
- University of Erlangen–NurembergErlangenGermany
| | | | | | | | - Clara Dees
- University of Erlangen–NurembergErlangenGermany
| | - Pawel Zerr
- University of Erlangen–NurembergErlangenGermany
| | | | | | - Zygmunt Mackevic
- State Research Institute Centre for Innovative MedicineVilniusLithuania
| | - Ingrid E. Lundberg
- Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, and Karolinska InstituteStockholmSweden
| | - Oliver Distler
- Center of Experimental Rheumatology and University Hospital ZurichZurichSwitzerland
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Kryštůfková O, Barbasso Helmers S, Venalis P, Malmström V, Lindroos E, Vencovský J, Lundberg IE. Expression of BAFF receptors in muscle tissue of myositis patients with anti-Jo-1 or anti-Ro52/anti-Ro60 autoantibodies. Arthritis Res Ther 2014; 16:454. [PMID: 25301447 PMCID: PMC4234835 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-014-0454-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 09/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Anti-Jo-1 and anti-Ro52 autoantibodies are common in patients with myositis, but the mechanisms behind their production are not known. Survival of autoantibody-producing cells is dependent on B-cell-activating factor of the tumour necrosis factor family (BAFF). BAFF levels are elevated in serum of anti-Jo-1-positive myositis patients and are influenced by type-I interferon (IFN). IFN-producing cells and BAFF mRNA expression are present in myositis muscle. We investigated expression of the receptors for BAFF in muscle tissue in relation to anti-Jo-1 and anti-Ro52/anti-Ro60 autoantibodies and type-I IFN markers. METHODS Muscle biopsies from 23 patients with myositis selected based on autoantibody profile and 7 healthy controls were investigated for expression of BAFF receptor (BAFF-R), B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI). Nineteen samples were assessed for plasma (CD138) and B-cell (CD19) markers. The numbers of positive cells per area were compared with the expression of plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) marker blood dendritic cell antigen-2 (BDCA-2) and IFNα/β-inducible myxovirus resistance-1 protein (MX-1). RESULTS BAFF-R, BCMA and TACI were expressed in five, seven and seven patients, respectively, and more frequently in anti-Jo-1-positive and/or anti-Ro52/anti-Ro60-positive patients compared to controls and to patients without these autoantibodies (P = BAFF-R: 0.007, BCMA: 0.03 and TACI: 0.07). A local association of receptors with B and plasma cells was confirmed by confocal microscopy. The numbers of CD138-positive and BCMA-positive cells were correlated (r = 0.79; P = 0.001). Expression of BDCA-2 correlated with numbers of CD138-positive cells and marginally with BCMA-positive cells (r = 0.54 and 0.42, respectively; P = 0.04 and 0.06, respectively). There was a borderline correlation between the numbers of positively stained TACI cells and MX-1 areas (r = 0.38, P = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS The expression pattern of receptors for BAFF on B and plasma cells in muscle suggests a local role for BAFF in autoantibody production in muscle tissues of patients with myositis who have anti-Jo-1 or anti-Ro52/anti-Ro60 autoantibodies. BAFF production could be influenced by type-I IFN produced by pDCs. Thus, B-cell-related molecular pathways may participate in the pathogenesis of myositis in this subset of patients.
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Venalis P, Pandya J, Al-Khalili L, Hossain M, Stache V, Lundberg I, Malmström V, Fasth A. FRI0521 Cd28null T Cells Kill Autologous Muscle Cells from Polymyositis Patients in Vitro by Perforin-Dependent Mechanisms. Ann Rheum Dis 2014. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.5189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Krystufkova O, Svitalkova T, Hulejova H, Svetla M, Plestilova L, Pecha O, Mann H, Notarnicola A, Venalis P, Padyukov L, Novota P, Lundberg I, Vencovsky J. FRI0520 Association Study of the BAFF Genetic Variations in Two Independent Cohorts with Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies. Ann Rheum Dis 2014. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.4065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Abstract
PM and DM are characterized clinically by weakness and low endurance of skeletal muscle. Other organs are frequently involved, suggesting that idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are systemic inflammatory diseases. Involvement of immune mechanisms in IIMs is supported by the presence of T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells in muscle tissue, by the presence of autoantibodies and by HLA-DR being a strong genetic risk factor. T cells may have direct and indirect toxic effects on muscle fibres, causing muscle fibre necrosis and muscle weakness, but the target of the immune reaction is not known. A newly identified T cell subset, CD28(null) T cells, may have cytotoxic effects in the CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell phenotype. These cells are apoptosis resistant and may contribute to treatment resistance. Several myositis-specific autoantibodies have been identified, but they are all directed against ubiquitously expressed autoantigens and the specificity of the T cell reactivity is not known. These autoantibodies are associated with distinct clinical phenotypes and some with distinct molecular pathways; e.g. sera from patients with anti-Jo-1 autoantibodies may activate the type I IFN system and these sera also contain high levels of B cell activating factor compared with other IIM subsets. The characterization of patients into subgroups based on autoantibody profiles seems to be a promising way to learn more about the specificities of the immune reactions. Careful phenotyping of infiltrating immune cells in muscle tissue before and after specific therapies and relating the molecular findings to clinical outcome measures may be another way to improve knowledge on specific immune mechanism in IIMs. Such information will be important for the development of new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulius Venalis
- CMM Foundation, Karolinska University Hospital L8:04, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Pandya J, Venalis P, Stache V, Al-Khalili L, Dastmalchi M, Malmström V, Lundberg I, Fasth A. SAT0021 CD28null T cells from myositis patients are cytotoxic to autologous muscle cells in vitro. Ann Rheum Dis 2013. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-eular.2969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Venalis P, Kumánovics G, Schulze-Koops H, Akhmetshina A, Dees C, Zerr P, Cziriak L, Mackevic Z, Lundberg I, Distler O, Schett G, Distler J. OP0231 Heart involvement in scleroderma patients and mice models. Ann Rheum Dis 2013. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-eular.1914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Abstract
T cells of both the CD4 and CD8 lineage are commonly found in affected tissues of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, but understanding the contribution of these cells to immunopathogenesis remains challenging. Given recent advances in identifying more myositis-associated autoantibodies and their putative targets, we suggest that studies on autoreactive T cells targeting those autoantigens are one way forward. Another (so far, more frequently used) approach comes from studies on effector T cells in the context of myositis. This review summarizes recent advances and current hypotheses in both of these contexts.
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Akhmetshina A, Palumbo K, Dees C, Bergmann C, Venalis P, Zerr P, Horn A, Kireva T, Beyer C, Zwerina J, Schneider H, Sadowski A, Riener MO, MacDougald OA, Distler O, Schett G, Distler JHW. Activation of canonical Wnt signalling is required for TGF-β-mediated fibrosis. Nat Commun 2012; 3:735. [PMID: 22415826 PMCID: PMC3316881 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 598] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2011] [Accepted: 02/07/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signalling pathway is a key mediator of fibroblast activation that drives the aberrant synthesis of extracellular matrix in fibrotic diseases. Here we demonstrate a novel link between transforming growth factor-β and the canonical Wnt pathway. TGF-β stimulates canonical Wnt signalling in a p38-dependent manner by decreasing the expression of the Wnt antagonist Dickkopf-1. Tissue samples from human fibrotic diseases show enhanced expression of Wnt proteins and decreased expression of Dickkopf-1. Activation of the canonical Wnt pathway stimulates fibroblasts in vitro and induces fibrosis in vivo. Transgenic overexpression of Dickkopf-1 ameliorates skin fibrosis induced by constitutively active TGF-β receptor type I signalling and also prevents fibrosis in other TGF-β-dependent animal models. These findings demonstrate that canonical Wnt signalling is necessary for TGF-β-mediated fibrosis and highlight a key role for the interaction of both pathways in the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases. Aberrant activation of the TGF-β pathway leads to fibrotic disease. Distler and colleagues show that TGF-β-mediated fibrosis requires the decrease of Dickkopf-1, an antagonist of canonical Wnt signalling, suggesting that the two pathways interact for the manifestation of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfiya Akhmetshina
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 and Institute for Clinical Immunology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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Beyer C, Schramm A, Distler A, Dees C, Taketo MM, de Crombrugghe B, Distler O, Schett G, Distler JHW, Dees C, Tomcik M, Palumbo K, Akhmetshina A, Horn A, Zerr P, Distler O, Schett G, Distler JHW, Distler A, Palumbo K, Dees C, Bergmann C, Venalis P, Zerr P, Horn A, Beyer C, MacDougald OA, Distler O, Schett G, Distler JHW, Lagares D, Busnadiego O, Garcia-Fernandez R, Kapoor M, Liu S, Carter D, Abraham D, Shi-Wen X, Carreira P, Fontaine B, Shea B, Tager A, Leask A, Lamas S, Rodriguez-Pascual F. S.6.1 -catenin is a central mediator in SSc. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2012. [DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/ker496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Venalis P, Distler O, Lundberg IE, Schett G, Distler JH. Heart involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis is mimicked by Fra-2 transgenic mice. Ann Rheum Dis 2012. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-201235.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Pandya J, Venalis P, Stache V, Al-Khalili L, Malmström V, Lundberg I, Fasth A. CD28 nullT cells from myositis patients are cytotoxic to autologous muscle cells in vitro. Ann Rheum Dis 2012. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-201235.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Rugienė R, Dadonienė J, Aleknavičius E, Tikuišis R, Distler J, Schett G, Venalis P, Venalis A. Prevalence of paraneoplastic rheumatic syndromes and their antibody profile among patients with solid tumours. Clin Rheumatol 2011; 30:373-80. [PMID: 21225302 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-010-1676-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2010] [Accepted: 12/22/2010] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of paraneoplastic rheumatic syndromes in a cohort of patients with newly diagnosed solid tumours and to describe their autoimmune profile, comparing it to the controls. Screening questionnaires (3,770) were distributed, and during a three-step study, 94 patients were confirmed to have both paraneoplastic syndrome and oncology diagnoses. Three control groups-patients with undifferentiated arthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon for non-malignant causes and solid tumours only-were designed to compare with the paraneoplastic cases and their immunology profile. The prevalence of paraneoplastic rheumatic syndromes was 2.65% (95% CI 0.21-3.20). The group of patients with arthritis and the group of patients with Raynaud's syndrome were found to prevail among other clinical presentations of paraneoplastic rheumatic syndromes. Both paraneoplastic syndromes were linked to malignancies of the urogenital system. Antinuclear antibodies were found to be similarly frequent in the paraneoplastic arthritis, paraneoplastic Raynaud's phenomenon and the solid tumour groups. No differences were observed when comparing paraneoplastic arthritis and undifferentiated arthritis, except that the patients with paraneoplastic arthritis were older. Comparing paraneoplastic Raynaud's to Raynaud's phenomenon, male preponderance in the paraneoplastic Raynaud's phenomenon group was observed, and the patients were obviously older. Paraneoplastic rheumatic syndromes are rare and more often occur in older patients. Among them, paraneoplastic arthritis and Raynaud's syndrome were the most frequent. The immunology profile does not help in discriminating between arthritis and paraneoplastic arthritis patients and is of limited use in Raynaud's differential diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Rugienė
- State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Zygimantu 9, Vilnius, Lithuania.
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Venalis P, Maurer B, Akhmetshina A, Busch N, Dees C, Stürzl M, Zwerina J, Jüngel A, Gay S, Schett G, Distler O, Distler JHW. Lack of inhibitory effects of the anti-fibrotic drug imatinib on endothelial cell functions in vitro and in vivo. J Cell Mol Med 2010; 13:4185-91. [PMID: 18774958 PMCID: PMC4496125 DOI: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2008.00492.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease that is characterized by microangiopathy with progressive loss of capillaries and tissue fibrosis. Imatinib exerts potent anti-fibrotic effects and is currently evaluated in clinical trials. The aim of the present study was to exclude that the anti-fibrotic effects of imatinib are complicated by inhibitory effects on endothelial cell functions, which might augment vascular disease in SSc. Endothelial cells and mice were treated with pharmacologically relevant concentrations of imatinib. The expression of markers of vascular activation was assessed with real-time PCR. Proliferation was analysed with the cell counting experiments and the MTT assay. Apoptosis was quantified with caspase 3 assays, annexin V in vitro and with TUNEL staining in vivo. Migration was studied with scratch and transwell assays. Tube forming was investigated with the matrigel assay. Imatinib did not alter the expression of markers of vascular activation. Imatinib did not increase the percentage of annexin V positive cells or the activity of caspase 3. No reduction in proliferation or metabolic activity of endothelial cells was observed. Imatinib did not affect migration of endothelial cells and did not reduce the formation of capillary tubes. Consistent with the in vitro data, no difference in the number of apoptotic endothelial cells was observed in vivo in mice treated with imatinib. Imatinib does not inhibit activation, viability, proliferation, migration or tube forming of endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. Thus, treatment with imatinib might not augment further endothelial cell damage in SSc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulius Venalis
- Department for Internal Medicine 3 and Institute for Clinical Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Reich N, Maurer B, Akhmetshina A, Venalis P, Dees C, Zerr P, Palumbo K, Zwerina J, Nevskaya T, Gay S, Distler O, Schett G, Distler JHW. The transcription factor Fra-2 regulates the production of extracellular matrix in systemic sclerosis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 62:280-90. [PMID: 20039427 DOI: 10.1002/art.25056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Fra-2 belongs to the activator protein 1 family of transcription factors. Mice transgenic for Fra-2 develop a systemic fibrotic disease with vascular manifestations similar to those of systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether Fra-2 plays a role in the pathogenesis of SSc and to identify the molecular mechanisms by which Fra-2 induces fibrosis. METHODS Dermal thickness and the number of myofibroblasts were determined in skin sections from Fra-2-transgenic and wild-type mice. The expression of Fra-2 in SSc patients and in animal models of SSc was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Fra-2, transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta), and ERK signaling in SSc fibroblasts were inhibited using small interfering RNA, neutralizing antibodies, and small-molecule inhibitors. RESULTS Fra-2-transgenic mice developed a skin fibrosis with increases in dermal thickness and increased myofibroblast differentiation starting at age 12 weeks. The expression of Fra-2 was up-regulated in SSc patients and in different mouse models of SSc. Stimulation with TGFbeta and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) significantly increased the expression of Fra-2 in SSc fibroblasts and induced DNA binding of Fra-2 in an ERK-dependent manner. Knockdown of Fra-2 potently reduced the stimulatory effects of TGFbeta and PDGF and decreased the release of collagen from SSc fibroblasts. CONCLUSION We demonstrate that Fra-2 is overexpressed in SSc and acts as a novel downstream mediator of the profibrotic effects of TGFbeta and PDGF. Since transgenic overexpression of Fra-2 causes not only fibrosis but also vascular disease, Fra-2 might be an interesting novel candidate for molecular-targeted therapies for SSc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Reich
- University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Mieliauskaite D, Venalis P, Dumalakiene I, Venalis A, Distler J. Relationship between serum levels of TGF-β1 and clinical parameters in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome secondary to rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmunity 2009; 42:356-8. [DOI: 10.1080/08916930902831977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Akhmetshina A, Venalis P, Dees C, Busch N, Zwerina J, Schett G, Distler O, Distler JHW. Treatment with imatinib prevents fibrosis in different preclinical models of systemic sclerosis and induces regression of established fibrosis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 60:219-24. [DOI: 10.1002/art.24186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Venalis P, Distler O, Akhmetshina A, Dees C, Buch N, Gay S, Schett G, Distler J. Effect of imatinib mesylate (IM) on endothelial cells (EC) functions. Joint Bone Spine 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2008.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Skhirtladze C, Distler O, Dees C, Akhmetshina A, Busch N, Venalis P, Zwerina J, Spriewald B, Pileckyte M, Schett G, Distler JHW. Src kinases in systemic sclerosis: Central roles in fibroblast activation and in skin fibrosis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 58:1475-84. [DOI: 10.1002/art.23436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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