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Background. Early diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is yet not elucidated, with a potential diagnostic glance of microRNAs (miRNAs). Aim. Study the expression profile of miRNA-451a and miRNA-125a in AS patients and their impact on disease activity and prognosis. Methods. A cross-sectional study included 55 AS patients diagnosed according to modified New York criteria in 1984 with 55 matched healthy controls. History, clinical examination, and disease activity assessment with Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) were done. Full laboratory and radiological assessment along with expression profile of m iRNA-451a and miRNA-125a were tabulated and analyzed. Results. Higher expression levels of miRNA-125a and lower of miRNA-451a in AS patients compared to controls. Furthermore, miRNA-125a expression was high in active AS patients compared to inactive patients and controls ( 7.0 ± 3.4 vs. 4.1 ± 2.1 vs. 2.6 ± 0.6 , p < 0.001 , respectively). miRNA-451a was significantly lower in active AS patients compared to inactive patients and controls ( 2.2 ± 1.1 vs. 4.1 ± 2.3 vs. 7.1 ± 4.5 , respectively). Both miRNAs (miRNA-125a and miRNA-451a) had evident accuracy for AS diagnosis with areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.788 and 0.802, respectively. miRNA-125a had potential impact on AS activity with AUC of 0.777. Plasma levels of both miRNAs were able to distinguish AS patients with structural damage with AUCs 0.775 and 0.692, respectively. Conclusions. Both miRNA-451a and miRNA-125a were found to be of great value as sensitive noninvasive diagnostic, prognostic, and disease burden biomarker of AS patients in Egypt with suggested further studies for future therapeutic implications.

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Background:Matricellular protein Cysteine-rich protein 61 (Cyr61) is involved in chronic inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and atherosclerosis.Objectives:This study aimed to assess the value of serum Cyr61 in diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, evaluating its correlation with disease activity and its relation to atherosclerosis.Methods:Cross-sectional study included 105 RA patients classified into active and inactive groups according to disease activity score (DAS28) with 50 healthy age and gender-matched controls. Full clinical and laboratory assessment was done including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measurement of Cyr61. Bilateral assessment of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was done using high resolution-ultrasonography. Comparison of Cyr61 between RA patients and controls, correlation between Cyr61 and disease activity and CIMT were analyzed with appropriate statistical analyses.Results:Significant elevation of Cyr61 in RA patients compared to controls (235.62±62.5 vs. 73.11±18.2) respectively. The cut off value of Cyr61 was 99.25 pg/ml, with area under the curve (AUC) =0.995, P <0.001, 98 % sensitivity and 95% specificity. Cyr61 was inversely correlated with DAS28 and its components in RA patients (r=- 0.92, r=- 0.94) (p<0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between Cyr61 levels and CIMT in inactive and active RA patients (r=0.88, r=0.47) respectively.Conclusion:Serum Cyr61 as a potential diagnostic biomarker in RA is inversely correlated with disease activity. High Cyr61 in RA is a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Disruption of serum Cyr61 is engaged in the pathogenesis of both rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis which is a clue for a future treatment strategy of RA.References:[1]Smolen JS, Aletaha D, Barton A, Burmester GR, Emery P, Firestein GS, Kavanaugh A, McInnes IB, Solomon DH, Strand V, Yamamoto K (2018) Rheumatoid arthritis. Nature reviews Disease primers 4:18001. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2018.1[2]Pelechas E, Kaltsonoudis E, Voulgari PV, Drosos AA (2019) Rheumatoid Arthritis. In: Pelechas E, Kaltsonoudis E, Voulgari PV, Drosos AA (eds) Illustrated Handbook of Rheumatic and Musculo-Skeletal Diseases. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 45-76. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-03664-5_3[3]Sparks JA (2019) Rheumatoid Arthritis. Annals of Internal Medicine 170 (1):ITC1-ITC16. doi:10.7326/aitc201901010[4]Abd El-Monem S, Ali A, Hashaad N, Bendary A, Abd El-Aziz H (2019) Association of rheumatoid arthritis disease activity, severity with electrocardiographic findings, and carotid artery atherosclerosis. Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation 46 (1):11-20. doi:10.4103/err.err_36_18[5]Rawla P (2019) Cardiac and vascular complications in rheumatoid arthritis. Reumatologia 57 (1):27-36. doi:10.5114/reum.2019.83236[6]de Brito Rocha S, Baldo DC, Andrade LEC (2019) Clinical and pathophysiologic relevance of autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis. Advances in Rheumatology 59 (1):2. doi:10.1186/s42358-018-0042-8Disclosure of Interests:None declared

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Background: Self-immunization in systemic lupus is driven by defective in apoptosis. Fas, is an apoptosis-promoting cell surface receptor. The present study evaluate the possible association between APO-1/FAS Promoter (-670A/G) Polymorphism and sFAS level with susceptibility to lupus nephritis in SLE patients. Design and Methods: This study was performed on 88 female patients with SLE (mean age, 39.82 ± 10.16 years). 82 patients with lupus nephritis (mean age, 42.50 ± 6.65 years). 150 age and sex-matched person served as controls. All participants were genotyped for the APO-1/FAS Promoter (-670A/G) Polymorphism, manifestations and serum sFAS were correlated with the genotypes. Results: Serum sFAS was significantly higher in patients with-670 AA genotype compared to others. (-670A/G) AA genotype frequencies were significantly higher in the lupus nephritis and SLE patients groups compared with the controls and were associated with increased risk for lupus nephritis and SLE development (odds ratio, 4.08 and 1.91 respectively). Conclusions: The APO-1/FAS Promoter (-670A/G) A allele can be used as a genetic marker for lupus nephritis susceptibility in SLE and was associated with high sFAS level.