Increased serum levels of soluble fractalkine (CX₃CL1) correlate with disease activity in rheumatoid vasculitis

Abstract

Objective. To determine levels of soluble fractalkine (sFkn) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with and without rheumatoid vasculitis (RV), and to assess the relationship of sFkn levels to disease activity.Methods. Serum was obtained from 98 RA patients (54 without vasculitis, 36 with extraarticular manifestations but without histologically proven vasculitis, and 8 with histologically proven vasculitis) and from 38 healthy individuals. Levels of sFkn were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of Fkn and CX 3 CR1 was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Vasculitis disease activity was assessed using the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score and the Vasculitis Activity Index.Results. Serum sFkn levels were significantly higher in patients with RA than in controls and were significantly higher in RA patients with RV than in those without vasculitic complications. Statistically significant correlations were observed between serum sFkn levels in RA patients and levels of C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, immune complex, and complement. In the RV group, sFkn levels also correlated with disease activity. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that Fkn levels were associated mainly with endothelial cells in vasculitic arteries. In addition, expression of CX 3 CR1 messenger RNA was significantly greater in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with active RV than in those from other RA patients or controls. Notably, serum sFkn levels were significantly diminished following successful treatment and clinical improvement.Conclusion. These findings suggest that Fkn and CX 3 CR1 play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of RV and that sFkn may serve as a serologic inflammatory marker of disease activity in RA patients with vasculitis.

Induction of Immunologic Tolerance to Myelin Basic Protein Prevents Central Nervous System Autoimmunity and Improves Outcome After Stroke

“…45 In patients with autoimmune disorders, serum levels of fractalkine correlate with disease activity. [22][23][24] Given that the cellular immune response to MBP in spleen and circulating fractalkine levels were correlated in our study, it suggests that this chemokine could also be used as a marker of ongoing inflammation in the brain. Further studies to compare the histological expression of fractalkine and the cellular immune response in brain (ie, influx of lymphocytes) with circulating fractalkine levels and the Th1 response to brain are warranted.…”

“…We also assessed serological markers of the immune response, including antibodies to MBP and systemic levels of fractalkine, because the amount of this chemokine in circulation appears to correlate with disease activity in patients with autoimmune disorders. [22][23][24] …”

Fractalkine and TGF-β1 levels reflect the severity of chronic pancreatitis in humans

“…In inflamed local organs, such as the liver, lungs, and the kidneys, the participation of fractalkine has been recently noted [35][36][37][38][39][40] . Furthermore, increased s-fractalkine serum levels have been reported for patients with various chronic inflammatory diseases [40][41][42][43][44] . However, until now, there are no reports related to fractalkine in pancreatic inf lammator y diseases.…”

Clinical Relevance of Cytokines, Chemokines and Adhesion Molecules in Systemic Vasculitis

“…The disease activity in patients with either WG or MPA is closely correlated with the markers of EC damage (Hergesell et al 1996). Moreover, we found that higher serum CX3CL1 levels are observed in patients with RV than in those with RA without vasculitis or in healthy controls (Matsunawa et al 2006). The elevated CX3CL1 levels in the RV patients are positively correlated with BVAS, VAI and serum parameters, including rheumatoid factor titers, immune complex (IC-C1q) levels, and ICAM-1 levels.…”