A 588-gene microarray analysis of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of spondyloarthropathy patients
OBJECTIVES: To identify genes which are more highly expressed in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with spondyloarthropathy (SpA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), in comparison to normal subjects. METHODS: A 588-gene microarray was used as a screening tool to select a panel of such genes from PBMC of these subjects and of normal subjects. Results were then validated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The following genes were more highly expressed in arthritis patients than in normal subjects: macrophage differentiation marker MNDA (myeloid nuclear differentiation antigen), MRP8 and MRP14 (migratory inhibitor…
Assessing Single Joints in Arthritis Clinical Trials
The need to develop validated outcome measures to assess response to therapies in single joints has been recognized. In 2004, a task force was established to assess established and novel outcome measures in accordance with the OMERACT filter (truth, discrimination, and feasibility) for single joint assessment. This report describes the proceedings of the single joint assessment special interest group (SIG) at OMERACT 9, including an updated literature review of imaging of the knee joints, with a focus on the extent to which these modalities fulfill the OMERACT filter. A series of studies are reported that examine patient reported, clinical examination, and imaging outcomes in therapeutic st…
Expression of host defense scavenger receptors in spondylarthropathy
Objective Reactive arthritis (ReA) is postulated to be caused by a defective host defense against gram-negative bacteria. HLA–B27 could play a role in this process, but does not account for the many HLA–B27 negative patients. The objective of this study was to test the expression of 3 macrophage scavenger receptors (SRs) that are responsible for innate immunity against gram-negative bacteria: SR class A type I (SR-AI), SR-AII, and the macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO). We postulate that defects in such receptors might also contribute to the host risk factors that increase the predisposition to ReA and perhaps other subtypes of spondylarthropathy (SpA). Methods Periphera…