Dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs in Takayasu arteritis: A proof-of-concept study.

Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a rare systemic vasculitis primarily affecting the aorta and its major branches. Early diagnosis is critical to prevent severe vascular complications, yet current biomarkers are insufficient. This proof-of-concept study explores the potential of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in TAK, an area largely unexplored. In this cross-sectional study, 53 TAK patients, 53 healthy controls, and 10 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were enrolled. Clinical evaluations, disease activity assessments, and lncRNA expression levels were analyzed. TAK patients exhibited significant dysregulation in several lncRNAs, including THRIL (19.4, 11.1-48.8 vs. 62.5, 48.6-91.4 arbitrary units [a.u.]; p < 0.0001), HIF1A-AS1 (4.5, 1.8-16.6 vs. 26.5, 19.8-33.7 a.u.; p < 0.0001), MALAT-1 (26.9, 13.8-52.5 vs. 92.1, 58.5-92.1 a.u.; p < 0.0001), and HOTAIR (8.0, 2.5-24.5 vs. 36.0, 30.0-43.8 a.u.; p < 0.0001), compared to healthy controls. Notably, HOTAIR (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.825), HIF1A-AS1 (AUC = 0.820), and THRIL (AUC = 0.781) demonstrated high diagnostic potential with superior specificity (approximately 95%). While lncRNAs showed diagnostic promise, no significant correlations with TAK activity were observed. Comparative analysis with RA patients revealed distinct lncRNA expression patterns. This study unveils significant dysregulation of lncRNAs THRIL, HIF1A-AS1, and HOTAIR in TAK patients, underscoring their potential as biomarkers and opening avenues for further research into the mechanistic roles of these lncRNAs in TAK pathogenesis.

Senescent CD4+CD28null cells are increased in chronic hyperuricemia, show aberrant effector phenotypes, and are reversed after allopurinol therapy: a proof-of-concept pilot study.

To characterize CD4+CD28null cells in chronic hyperuricemia and investigate whether allopurinol could restore CD28 expression and the balance of T helper phenotypes. Asymptomatic individuals with chronic hyperuricemia and ultrasonographic findings evocative of urate deposition in the joints. Age- and gender-matched normouricemic individuals were also studied. Oral allopurinol at 150 mg/day for 4 weeks, followed by 300 mg/day through week 12. Color-flow cytometry on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with antibodies against CD4, CD28, T-bet (Th1), GATA-3 (Th2), and RORγt (Th17). Six patients (five men, median age of 53 years) and seven controls were studied. At baseline, hyperuricemic patients had more CD4+CD28null/CD4+ cells than normouricemic subjects (36.8% vs. 6.1%; p = 0.001), with a predominance of T-bet+ cells (98.5% vs. 6.6%; p = 0.001) and few RORγt+ cells (0.7% vs. 89.4%; p = 0.014). In hyperuricemic patients, the number of CD4+ cells/10,000 PBMC was similar before and after allopurinol (3378 vs. 3954; p = 0.843). Conversely, CD4+CD28null cells decreased from 36.8% (23.0-43.7) to 15.8% (4.7-28.1; p = 0.031). CD4+CD28nullT-bet+ cells decreased from 98.5% (95.0-99.4) to 88.3% (75.2-98.9; p = 0.062), CD4+CD28nullGATA-3+ cells increased from 0% (0-4.0) to 2.8% (0.1-15.6; p = 0.156), and CD4+CD28nullRORγt+ cells increased from 0.7% (0.4-7.0) to 4.5% (1.3-28.1; p = 0.031). The CD4+CD28null cell subset is abnormally expanded in chronic hyperuricemia, despite the absence of overt urate-related disease. Allopurinol may partially restore CD28 expression on CD4+ cells while enhancing the homeostatic balance of T helper phenotypes. ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT04012294.

Performance analysis of Luminex and ELISA to profile serum IP-10 as a biomarker in systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: Interferon-γ inducible protein-10 (IP-10) is a promising biomarker in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The optimal quantification platform has not yet been identified. We compared the performance of bead-based multiplex assay (Luminex) and high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (hs-ELISA) for profiling serum IP-10 as a biomarker of lupus activity. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on outpatients with SLE. Serum IP-10 was measured simultaneously on Luminex and hs-ELISA, and correlation between platforms was assessed. Additionally, IP-10 levels were tested against disease activity and organ involvement. RESULTS: One-hundred and forty-one patients (88% women; 38 years old) were studied. Median IP-10 levels were 100.9 (125.2) pg/mL by Luminex and 156.5 (191.7) pg/mL by hs-ELISA. Correlation analysis showed Spearman's ρ = 0.621 (p < 0.0001) between Luminex and hs-ELISA. Quantification of IP-10 by Luminex showed a significant correlation (ρ = 0.198; p = 0.021) with disease activity, while this was not observed (ρ = 0.036; p = 0.683) when measured using hs-ELISA. Serum IP-10 levels were lower in quiescent patients than in those with active disease (70.8 [68.4] versus 114.3 [123.9] pg/mL; p = 0.024), with an AUC-ROC = 0.62 (p = 0.029), sensitivity = 47.9%, specificity = 77.5%, and positive likelihood ratio = 2.1. Patients with active arthritis had higher IP-10 levels than non-arthritis patients (158.1 [505.4] versus 94.1 [114.0] pg/mL; p = 0.008), with an AUC-ROC = 0.73 (p = 0.0009), sensitivity = 72.7%, specificity = 66.4%, and positive likelihood ratio = 2.1. No other type of organ involvement was identified by serum IP-10. CONCLUSIONS: Luminex performs better than hs-ELISA as a quantification platform for IP-10 as it correlates with disease activity and identifies active arthritis in SLE.