Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder that affects mainly females. Therefore, interrelations between the reproductive and immune system have been assumed. Considering the complex influence of hormones and receptors, we aimed to investigate the influence of androgens and androgen receptor (AR) polymorphism in women with SLE. One hundred and sixteen patients and 44 healthy women were investigated. Testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEAS) concentrations and AR (CAG)n polymorphism were determined. SLE patients had significantly lower levels of total and free testosterone and DHEAS in comparison with the controls. No differences in the CAG repeat length between the groups were established. Women with two alleles carrying more than 22 CAG repeats had significantly higher levels of SHBG (101.51 ± 61.81 vs. 69.22 ± 45.93 nmol/l, p = 0.015) and DHEAS (3.11 ± 2.65 vs. 2.11 ± 3.06 μmol/l, p = 0.007) and a tendency to higher testosterone concentrations (2.35 ± 2.10 vs. 1.71 ± 1.70 nmol/l, p = 0.056) in comparison with other women. The CAG repeat length in the relatively longer (CAG)n allele was inversely related to the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR index (r = -0.258, p = 0.009). In conclusion, the androgen receptor (CAG)n polymorphism is not related to the development of SLE, but it could modulate the severity of the lupus chronic damages as well as the androgen levels in women.
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) are formed by the action of host-generated antigens and are part of the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). They are a sensitive and highly specific indicator of RA.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In the study involved 105 subjects aged 32 to 85 years (Mean age 50,6 ±13,07), divided into four groups: Group I – with periodontitis (P) and without RA, with diagnosed osteoarthritis – 26 patients; Group II – with P and RA – 28 patients; Group III – without P and with RA – 26 patients; Group IV – without P and without RA – 25 individuals. All patients underwent clinical and laboratory tests for the diagnosis of RA and osteoarthritis, a clinical periodontal examination, and unstimulated whole saliva was collected.
RESULTS
We found significantly higher salivary ACPA levels in RA patients compared to healthy subjects (p <0.0001). In P patients we found significantly higher levels of ACPA in saliva than in healthy subjects (p <0.0001). Among P patients, we found a significant correlation between ACPA concentration in saliva and the following indicators: PISA; PD; BOP, respectively (p<0.001), (p =0.003), (p =0.007). Among RA patients, our results showed a significant correlation of ACPA concentration in saliva with the following indicators: serum ACPA concentration (p <0.0001); serum RF concentration (p <0.0001); DAS-28 (CRP) (p=0.009).
CONCLUSION
Based on the established correlation between salivary ACPA levels and RA indicators, a high concentration of ACPA in saliva may be suggested as an easily accessible indicator of RA, but further studies are needed to ascertain this possibility. The established association between periodontal parameters and salivary ACPA levels confirms the effect of periodontal inflammation on salivary ACPA concentration and justifies the treatment of P as a way of preventing and controlling RA.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease associated with different reproductive complications in the affected women. Inherited thrombophilias are genetic factors increasing the risk for thromboembolism and recurrent pregnancy loss, but their influence on other reproductive disturbances in SLE patients has not been completely clarified. Two hundred and twenty-three Caucasian women (112 with SLE and 111 controls) were included in the study. Complete reproductive history of all SLE patients was carefully obtained. Genotyping for the FVLeiden, FIIG20210A, and MTHFRC677T polymorphisms was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. No significant differences in the prevalence of the FVLeiden, FIIG20210A, and MTHFRC677T polymorphisms between patients and controls were established. Patients with FVLeiden had fewer pregnancies (0.57 ± 0.98 vs. 2.18 ± 1.58; p = 0.007) than the others, while no significant differences in the reproductive history of FIIG20210A carriers and non-carriers were observed (p >0.05). In the SLE group, 41.67% of women with the MTHFRC677T TT genotype had at least one miscarriage in comparison to only 14.00% of the other female patients (p = 0.030). While the prevalence of the investigated thrombophilias was similar in patients with SLE and healthy women, a substantial influence of the inherited prothrombotic factors on the reproductive history of patients was revealed. The investigations of the FVLeiden and MTHFRC677T polymorphisms in SLE patients could help to identify women at highest risk for reproductive failure and thus, further studies in other ethnic groups would be of strong clinical importance.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.