Abatacept alleviates rheumatoid arthritis development by inhibiting migration of fibroblast-like synoviocytes via MAPK pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Abatacept could regulate the occurrence and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by mediating cell migration of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Levels of MMP1, MMP3 and MMP13 in RA-FLS treated with Abatacept or MAPK pathway inhibitor were detected by quantitative Real-time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The regulatory effect of Abatacept on MAPK pathway was detected by Western blot. Transwell assay was performed to access the role of Abatacept in regulating cell migration of RA-FLS. RESULTS: Abatacept treatment remarkably downregulated levels of MMP1, MMP3 and MMP13 in FLS, which were confirmed by qRT-PCR and ELISA. Migratory ability of FLS was inhibited by Abatacept treatment. Western blot results suggested that Abatacept treatment downregulated MAPK pathway-related genes in FLS. The effects of Abatacept on MMPs expressions and cell migration were partially reversed by SB203580 treatment, the MAPK pathway inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: Abatacept inhibits FLS migration and MMPs expressions via inhibiting MAPK pathway, thereby inhibiting RA development.

Diagnostic values of serum IL-10 and IL-17 in rheumatoid arthritis and their correlation with serum 14-3-3η protein.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic values of serum IL-10 and IL-17 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their correlation with serum protein. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 116 RA patients admitted to the Yantaishan Hospital (the RA group) and 116 healthy subjects (the control group). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the expression levels of serum interleukin (IL)-10, IL-17 and 14-3-3η protein. Pearson analysis was performed to analyze the correlation between the expression levels of serum IL-10, IL-17 and 14-3-3η protein of patients in the RA group, and ROC curve analysis was conducted to measure the diagnostic values of IL-10, IL-17 and their combination in RA. RESULTS: Patients in the RA group had significantly lower serum IL-10 level and markedly higher IL-17 and 14-3-3η protein levels than those in the control group (p<0.001). Serum IL-10 level was negatively correlated with 14-3-3η protein level in RA patients (r=-0.582, p<0.001). Serum IL-17 level was positively correlated with 14-3-3η protein level in RA patients (r=0.482, p<0.001). Serum IL-10 level was negatively correlated with IL-17 level in RA patients (r=-0.468, p<0.001). The AUC of IL-10 for diagnosing RA was 0.671, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.602-0.741 and a cut-off value of 87.315. The AUC of IL-17 for diagnosing RA was 0.856, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.807-0.905 and a cut-off value of 87.844. The AUC of IL-10 combined with IL-17 for diagnosing RA was 0.887. CONCLUSIONS: RA patients had remarkably lower serum IL-10 level and significantly higher IL-17 and 14-3-3η protein levels than healthy people. IL-17 has better sensitivity and specificity than IL-10 for diagnosing RA. IL-10 combined with IL-17 is beneficial to improve the diagnostic level of RA, which provides the reference for the diagnosis, treatment and pathogenesis of RA.