Interleukin‐17F (IL‐17F) is a novel proinflammatory cytokine. IL‐17F gene is an excellent candidate for chronic inflammatory disease. We investigated the association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and His161Arg (7488A/G; rs763780) and Glu126Gly (7383A/G; rs2397084) polymorphism of IL‐17F gene. The gene polymorphisms in 220 Polish patients with RA and 106 healthy subjects were amplified by polymerase chain reaction with restriction endonuclease mapping. Overall, the polymorphisms of the IL‐17F gene were not correlated with susceptibility to RA in Polish population. However, the IL‐17F His161Arg variant was associated with parameters of disease activity, such as number of tender joints, HAQ score or DAS‐28‐CRP. Moreover, our findings have shown that Glu126Gly IL‐17F gene polymorphism may be correlated with longer disease duration in patients with RA. Our results for the first time showed the relationship between IL‐17F gene polymorphisms and severity of RA.
Interleukin‐23 (IL‐23) is a heterodimeric cytokine belonging to the IL‐6/IL‐12 family that plays a key role in several of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. This family contains the 34 type I cytokine receptor chains and 27 ligands, which share structural and functional similarities, but on the other hand they display distinct roles in shaping Th cells responses. IL‐12 family cytokines have not only proinflammatory effects but they also promote inflammatory responses. IL‐23 is composed of the p40 subunit in common with IL‐12, and with a unique p19 subunit. IL‐23 binding to an IL‐23 receptor expressed on dendritic cells, macrophages and monocytes triggers the activation of Jak2 and Tyk2, which in turn phosphorylates STAT1, STAT3, STAT4 and STAT5 as well as induce formation of STAT3‐STAT4 heterodimers. IL‐23 is one of the essential factors required for the survival and/or expansion of Th17 cells, which produce IL‐17, IL‐17F, IL‐6 and TNF‐α. Th17 cells stimulated by the IL‐23 promote osteoclastogenesis through production of IL‐17, which induce receptor activator of NF‐kappa B ligand on mesenchymal cells. The IL‐23‐IL‐17 axis includes Th17 cells and plays a key role in the development of autoimmune arthritis.
ObjectivesThe aim of our study was to determine whether there is a correlation between transcription factors expression and Th17/Treg ratio, cytokine profile in the RA phenotype as well as to identify transcription factors that could be a potential biomarker for RA.MethodsThe study was conducted on 45 patients with RA, 27 patients with OA and 46 healthy controls (HCs). Th17 and Treg frequency was determined by flow cytometry (15 patients with RA/OA and 15 subjects of HC). Gene expression was estimated by qPCR, and the serum cytokine levels were determined by ELISA.ResultsThe percentage of Treg (CD4+CD25highCD127-) cells in RA patients was lower than in OA patients or HCs. Proportions of Th17 (CD4+CCR6+CXCR3-) cells were higher in RA and OA in comparison to HCs. STAT5 showed a very high expression in the blood of RA patients compared to healthy subjects. The expression of STAT5 and HELIOS was not detected in Th17 cells. A positive correlation between SMAD3 and STAT3 in RA patients was observed. Negative correlations between HIF-1A and SMAD2 in RA Treg cells and DAS-28 score were observed. The range of serum of IL-17 and IL-21 were higher in RA patients than in OA patients. Concentrations of serum IL-2 and IFN-γ were higher in RA and OA patients than in healthy subjects. Based on the ROC analysis, the diagnostic potential of the combination of HIF1A, SMAD3 and STAT3, was determined at AUC 0.95 for distinguishing RA patients from HCs. For distinguishing RA patients from OA patients the diagnostic potential of the combination of SMAD2, SMAD3, SMAD4 and STAT3, was determined at AUC 0.95.ConclusionBased on our study, we conclude that SMAD3 and STAT3 could be potential diagnostic biomarkers for RA.
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