@article { author = {Tahernia, Leili and Namazi, Shideh and Rezaei, Nima and Ziaee, Vahid}, title = {Cytokines in systemic lupus erythematosus: their role in pathogenesis of disease and possible therapeutic opportunities}, journal = {Rheumatology Research}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {1-9}, year = {2017}, publisher = {Rheumatology Research}, issn = {2476-5856}, eissn = {2476-5856}, doi = {10.22631/rr.2017.69997.1010}, abstract = {Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that may involve several organs. The disease is characterized by a recurring pattern of remission and flare. Immunologic factors seem to have important roles in the pathogenesis of SLE. Several studies revealed that cytokines are important in pathogenesis of this disorder. These cytokines include B cell activating factor (BAFF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferon (IFN), interleukin (IL)-23, IL-17, IL-10, IL-6 and IL-21. In this article, the role of cytokines and their encoding genes are described and therapeutic applications have been discussed briefly. }, keywords = {Cytokines,immunologic factors,Pathogenesis,SLE,Systemic lupus erythematosus}, url = {https://www.rheumres.org/article_42357.html}, eprint = {https://www.rheumres.org/article_42357_44e8a30543382ef3b87319a33d50c4aa.pdf} } @article { author = {Mahmoudi, Mahmoud and Rastin, Maryam and Sahebari, Maryam and Zamani, Shahrzad and Tabasi, Nafiseh}, title = {Autoantibody profile, disease activity and organ involvement in Iranian systemic lupus erythematosus patients}, journal = {Rheumatology Research}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {11-16}, year = {2017}, publisher = {Rheumatology Research}, issn = {2476-5856}, eissn = {2476-5856}, doi = {10.22631/rr.2017.69997.1011}, abstract = {Autoantibodies have been implicated with increased risk of organ involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In the present study, we looked for autoantibody profiles and their association with clinical symptoms in a group of Iranian patients with SLE. In this study, 98 lupus patients (78 females and 20 males) were evaluated for the presence of autoantibodies against nRNP/Sm, Sm, SSA, Ro52, SSB, Scl-70, Jo-1, CENP B, nucleosomes, histones and Rib-P protein using immunoblotting technique. Anti-dsDNA was the most prevalent autoantibody (69.1%). The increased amount of autoantibodies, of the affected organs, and presence of anti-histone and anti-dsDNA correlated with disease activity. In the SLE patients with renal involvement, presence of anti-nucleosome (54.8% vs. 39.4%, P= 0.04) and decreased levels of anti-SSB (14.3% vs. 26.3%, P= 0.007) were significantly different campared with patients without renal involvement. Our results showed that elevated levels of autoantibodies including anti-dsDNA and anti-histone, and increasing number of involved organs, could be used as predictors for assessment of disease activity in patients with lupus. In addition, the increased levels of anti-nucleosome and the lower occurrence of anti-SSB could be used in the verification of renal damage. }, keywords = {anti-dsDNA,autoantibody,organ involvement,Systemic lupus erythematosus}, url = {https://www.rheumres.org/article_42358.html}, eprint = {https://www.rheumres.org/article_42358_b84ef7787a09e5ad4c75993027fd37f1.pdf} } @article { author = {Soleymani Salehabadi, Hossein and Bashiri, Hamidreza and Nouri Majelan, Nader and Dehghan, Ali and Owlia, Mohammadbagher}, title = {Prognostic factors of lupus nephritis in an Iranian population}, journal = {Rheumatology Research}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {17-22}, year = {2017}, publisher = {Rheumatology Research}, issn = {2476-5856}, eissn = {2476-5856}, doi = {10.22631/rr.2017.69997.1012}, abstract = {Several studies have been done on Lupus Nephritis (LN) and the related outcomes, but there are limited data about the outcome of the disease in Iranian patients. Our aim of this study was to determine predictive factors of poor prognosis of LN amongst an Iranian population. This retrospective study included 111 LN patients, which were followed at least for one complete year according to their medical records. Data such as age, gender, geographical region, classification of renal biopsy, serum creatinine, blood pressure, complement levels, proteinuria, anti-dsDNA level, hemoglobin, Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) and serum albumin were collected. The short-term outcome was considered as complete remission, partial remission or non-remission; possible factors affecting the occurrence of these outcomes were evaluated. Pearson Chi-Square test and logistic regression were used for data analysis. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Female: male ratio was 9.1:1 and the mean age of patients was 26.86±7 years. Low albumin, low GFR, low hemoglobin, high systolic and diastolic blood pressure, high serum creatinine, proteinuria and biopsy class IV at baseline were significantly associated with no remission or partial remission. There was no relationship between the mentioned outcomes and age, gender and geographic region of the subjects. All variables associated with the risk of non-remission should be considered in determining the prognosis and treatment plan. Of all the factors mentioned above, systolic blood pressure and low C3 levels had the highest correlation with the failure of remission. }, keywords = {lupus nephritis,Prognosis,remission}, url = {https://www.rheumres.org/article_42359.html}, eprint = {https://www.rheumres.org/article_42359_ac0efb7c7abdd25ddab1b928338e1a66.pdf} } @article { author = {Kolahi, Sousan and Ghorbanihaghjo, Amir and Rashtchizadeh, Nadereh and Khabbazi, Alireza and Hajialilo, Mehrzad and Noshad, Hamid and Boostani, Farnaza and Mokhtarkhani, Mohaddeseh}, title = {Osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels, total soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-Kappa B ligand (total sRANKL) , and RANKL/OPG ratio in patients with rheumatoid arteritis}, journal = {Rheumatology Research}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {23-29}, year = {2017}, publisher = {Rheumatology Research}, issn = {2476-5856}, eissn = {2476-5856}, doi = {10.22631/rr.2017.69997.1013}, abstract = {Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of most important collagen vascular diseases. It has an unknown origin. The aim of this study was to evaluate circulating levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG), total soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-Kappa B ligand (total sRANKL), and RANKL/OPG ratio in patients with RA. Forty-five females with RA, who fulfilled the American college of rheumatology (ACR) criteria for RA were included in this cross-sectional study. The overall disease activity was evaluated by the disease activity score based on 28 joint counts (DAS-28). The OPG and sRANKL were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured by ELISA.We used Pearson’s correlation for our comparisons. There was no statistically significant difference between the levels of CRP, OPG, sRANKL and RANKL/OPG ratio in terms of DAS-28 grades in our patients. No significant correlation was found between the serum levels of OPG and DAS-28 (P= 0.525), duration of the disease (P= 0.884), Z-score of the femur (P= 0.546) and Z-score of the spine (P= 0.492), T-score of the femur (P= 0.137) and T-score of the spine (P= 0.821) in the patient group. No significant correlations were found between sRANKL levels with DAS-28 (0.919), Z-score of the femur (P= 0.971), Z-score of the spine (P= 0.832) and T-score of the femur (P = 0170) in the studied groups. Our study showed that there was no significant correlation between CRP, OPG, sRANKL and RANKL/OPG ratio in DAS-28 grading of our patients. For this reason they will not be used for evaluating disease activity. However, there was a significant difference between case and control groups except for sRANKL (pg/mL).}, keywords = {ACR criteria,OPG,Rheumatoid arthritis,sRANKL}, url = {https://www.rheumres.org/article_42393.html}, eprint = {https://www.rheumres.org/article_42393_aca2618ff59b31faa2c5a79728fc130b.pdf} } @article { author = {Asadbeik, Mahsa and Farazmand, Ali and Vanaki, Negar and Mostafaei, Shayan and Jamshidi, Ahmad Reza and Ahmadzadeh, Nooshin and Vojdanian, Mahdi and Mohammad–Amoli, Mahsa and Mahmoudi, Mahdi}, title = {Gene expression profile of proinflammatory cytokines in Iranian patients with ankylosing spondylitis}, journal = {Rheumatology Research}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {31-38}, year = {2017}, publisher = {Rheumatology Research}, issn = {2476-5856}, eissn = {2476-5856}, doi = {10.22631/rr.2017.69997.1014}, abstract = {Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is mostly characterized by inflammation of the sacroiliac joints, enthesis and the spine. This study aims to determine gene expression profile of proinflammatory cytokines and their correlations with disease activity, spinal mobility, functional status, quality of life, and smoking in Iranian patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 48 patients with AS and 47 age and gender-matched healthy controls; then total RNA content of leukocytes was extracted, followed by cDNA synthesis from the mRNA of PBMCs. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IFN-γ genes. Clinical characteristics were evaluated and their correlations were analyzed with gene expression levels of the prionflammatory cytokines. A significant overexpression of TNF-α was observed in the patient group, but there was no significant difference in expression of other cytokines between groups. A positive correlation (P< 0.01) between TNF-α and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and negative correlation (P< 0.05) between IFN-γ and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) were found. Eta-Squared test supported significant results about the smoking effect on Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) (P< 0.05) and IFN-γ (P< 0.01). Our results demonstrated that TNF-α was the most important cytokine responsible for inflammatory-related outcomes of AS in the Iranian population.}, keywords = {ankylosing spondylitis,Proinflammatory cytokines,Gene expression}, url = {https://www.rheumres.org/article_42394.html}, eprint = {https://www.rheumres.org/article_42394_f23017e680a68453b5ce110125005ed8.pdf} } @article { author = {Javinani, Ali and Aghaei Meybodi, Hamid Reza and Jamshidi, Ahmad Reza and Gharibdoost, Farhad and Kavosi, Hoda}, title = {Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type IIIC and ankylosing spondylitis: a case report}, journal = {Rheumatology Research}, volume = {2}, number = {1}, pages = {39-43}, year = {2017}, publisher = {Rheumatology Research}, issn = {2476-5856}, eissn = {2476-5856}, doi = {10.22631/rr.2017.69997.1015}, abstract = {Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder defined by multiple endocrinopathies and the presence of other systemic or organ-specific autoimmunities. This case study, reports on a 46-year-old woman with confirmed idiopathic hyperparathyroidism, who was referred for inflammatory back pain. HLA-B27 positivity, recurrent anterior uveitis and radiologic findings led to ankylosing spondylitis (AS) diagnosis. By further investigations, a subclinical atrophic autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) was also diagnosed for her in addition to a history of premature ovarian failure. According to the absence of adrenal insufficiency in addition to an AITD and systemic autoimmune disorder, APS type IIIC was the most probable diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of APS type III associated with AS.}, keywords = {ankylosing,autoimmune,Hashimoto disease,hypoparathyroidism,polyendocrinopathies,primary ovarian insufficiency,spondylitis}, url = {https://www.rheumres.org/article_42396.html}, eprint = {https://www.rheumres.org/article_42396_83447e52439cd2398bf4bfe479e84f7a.pdf} }