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IntroductionCurrently used clinical scale and laboratory markers to monitor patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) seem to be not sufficient. It has been demonstrated that disease- related cytokines may be elevated very early in RA development and cytokines are considered as the biomarkers potentially useful for RA monitoring.Material and methodsThe group of patients with undifferentiated arthritis (UA) developing RA (UA→RA) was identified from a total of 121 people with arthralgia. UA→RA (n = 16) and healthy control (n = 16) subjects underwent clinical and laboratory evaluation, including acute phase reactants (APRs) and autoantibodies. Cytokines IFN-γ, IL-10, TNF, IL-17A, IL-6, IL-1b, IL-2 in sera were assayed using flow cytometric bead array test.Results34.5% of patients with UA developed RA. DAS28 reduced as early as 3 months after initiation of treatment. No DAS28 difference between groups of autoantibody (RF, anti-CCP, ANA-HEp-2) -positive and -negative patients was observed, however, comparing groups of anti-CCP and RF-double negative and -double positive patients, the trend of sooner clinical improvement was visible in the second abovementioned group. After the treatment introduction, the ESR level reduced significantly, while CRP level reduction was not significant. Serum cytokine levels of IL-10, IL-6 and IL-17A reduced after 6 months since introduction of treatment. The positive correlations between ESR, CRP and specific cytokine levels were observed.ConclusionsThe autoantibody and APR profile is poorly connected with the RA course. The serum cytokine profile change in the course of RA and may be potentially used for optimization of RA monitoring.

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Introduction.Much of what we know about the functioning of human T lymphocytes is based on the experiments carried out at atmospheric oxygen (O 2 ) concentrations, which are significantly higher than those maintained in blood. Interestingly, the gender differences in the activity of T cells and their susceptibility to apoptosis under different O 2 conditions have not yet been described. The aim of the study was to compare two main markers of lymphocyte function: proliferation capacity and ability to produce cytokines as well as their susceptibility to apoptosis under two different O 2 concentrations, between men and women. Material and methods. 25 healthy volunteers, both males (13) and females (12) were recruited to the study (mean age 25.48 ± 5.51). By using cytometry proliferation parameters of human CD4 + CD28+ cells or CD8 + CD28 + cells in response to polyclonal stimulation of the TCR/CD3 complex at atmospheric (21%) and physiological (10%) O 2 concentrations using our modified dividing cell tracking technique (DCT) were analyzed as well as the percentages of apoptotic cells. We also determined the levels of IFN-g, IL-2, IL-10 and IL-17A using Cytometric Bead Array Flex system in cell culture supernatants. Results. CD4+ CD28 + and CD8 + CD28 + cells from the whole study group were characterized by shorter time required to enter the first (G1) phase of the first cell cycle at 21% compared to 10% O 2 . Both T cell populations performed significantly more divisions at 21% O 2 . The percentages of dividing cells were also significantly higher at atmospheric O 2 . Interestingly, data analysis by gender showed that male lymphocytes had similar proliferative parameters at both O 2 concentrations while female lymphocytes proliferate more efficiently at 21% oxygen. Compared to males, the female CD4 + cells showed increased susceptibility to apoptosis at both O 2 concentrations. No differences in the levels of cytokines regardless of gender and oxygen conditions were found. Conclusions. We showed that in vitro female T cells (both CD4 + and CD8 + cells) are more sensitive than male lymphocytes to low O 2 concentration as demonstrated by the decrease in their proliferation dynamics. The effect does not depend on increased apoptosis of female T cells under low O 2 because percentage of apoptotic cells was similar at both O