0000000001268234
AUTHOR
C. Schinocca
Interleukin-9 Overexpression and Th9 Polarization Characterize the Inflamed Gut, the Synovial Tissue, and the Peripheral Blood of Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis
Objective To investigate the expression and tissue distribution of Th9-related cytokines in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods Quantitative gene expression analysis of Th1, Th17, and Th9 cytokines was performed in intestinal biopsy samples obtained from patients with PsA, HLA-B27-positive patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), patients with Crohn's disease (CD), and healthy controls. Expression and tissue distribution of interleukin-23 (IL-23), IL-17, IL-22, IL-9, and IL-9 receptor (IL-9R) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. Flow cytometry was used to study the frequency of Th9 cells among peripheral blood, lamina propria, and synovial fluid mon…
AB0563 AORTIC ROOT DILATION IN ASSOCIATED WITH THE REDUCTION OF CAPILLARY DENSITY OBSERVED AT NAILFOLD CAPILLAROSCOPY IN SSC PATIENTS
Background:Systemic sclerosis (SSc) in a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction and diffuse microangiopathy, leading to tissue ischemia and inducing fibrosis of skin and visceral organs. Furthermore, it was demonstrated the impairment of wall elasticity of large-medium vessels, such as aorta and its branches (1). SSc-related microangiopathy of vasa vasorum of the aortic wall could also be supposed. However no data on this hypothesis are available in literature.SSc microangiopathy may be easily studied at the nailfold by means of videocapillaroscopy. Indeed, capillaroscopic findings are representative of the microvascular damage caused by SSc troughout the body.O…
THU0395 Adult Onset Still's Disease: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study of 233 Italian Patients
Background Adult onset Still9s disease (AOSD) is a rare rheumatic disease with an estimated prevalence of less than 1 case per 100,000 population. The diagnosis is difficult and is often delayed due to the lack of specific diagnostic tests and the need to rule out other pathological entities. Objectives To describe the clinical characteristics of a multicenter Italian case series of patients with AOSD. Methods 14 Italian University Hospital centers participated in the study. A standardized medical record containing clinical data, laboratory investigations, disease patterns and the different therapies has been sent to all participating centers. Each center collected data retrospectively. Res…
Role of the IL-23/IL-17 Pathway in Rheumatic Diseases: An Overview
Interleukin-23 (IL-23) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine composed of two subunits, IL-23A (p19) and IL-12/23B (p40), the latter shared with Interleukin-12 (IL-12). IL-23 is mainly produced by macrophages and dendritic cells, in response to exogenous or endogenous signals, and drives the differentiation and activation of T helper 17 (Th17) cells with subsequent production of IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-6, IL-22, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Although IL-23 plays a pivotal role in the protective immune response to bacterial and fungal infections, its dysregulation has been shown to exacerbate chronic immune-mediated inflammation. Well-established experimental data support the concept that IL-23/IL…
Aortic root dilation in associated with the reduction in capillary density observed at nailfold capillaroscopy in SSc patients
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction and fibroblasts activation. Microvascular disease may be easily observed by means of nailfold capillaroscopy. Recent evidences emphasized also the involvement of large-medium arteries in SSc, mainly in terms of increased stiffness of the vessel wall. The study aims to measure aortic root diameter in a cohort of SSc patients and to correlate echocardiographic findings with the capillaroscopic pictures. We analyzed the clinical records of 125 consecutive SSc patients (M/F 14/111, mean age 55 ± 12.7 years, median disease duration 11 years) referring in 3 second-level rheumatology centers. All subjects un…
AB0564 HEART VALVULAR ALTERATIONS IN A MULTICENTRE ITALIAN COHORT OF SSC PATIENTS
Background:systemic sclerosis (SSc) in a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction, diffuse microangiopathy, and fibrosis of skin and visceral organs. Typical cardiac involvement may includes microvascular ischemia, contraction band necrosis, and patchy fibrosis, leading mainly to arrythmias and conduction defects, diastolic dysfunction, or right ventricular failure (secondary to pulmonary arterial hypertension) [1]. Valvular diseases are poorly described and generally not considered a typical sign of SSc [2-4].Objectives:we aimed to describe valvular alterations in a multicentre cohort of SSc patients.Methods:we consecutively recruited 118 SSc patients (M/F: 14/10…
The in vitro addition of methotrexate and/or methylprednisolone determines peripheral reduction in Th17 and expansion of conventional Treg and of IL-10 producing Th17 lymphocytes in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.
The aim of our study was to evaluate methotrexate (MTX) and methylprednisolone (MP) effect on peripheral Th17 and Treg subsets in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We enrolled 15 patients (10 early RA and 5 long-standing disease) with active RA and 10 age-matched healthy donors as controls. Frequencies of Th17 and Treg were quantified using flow cytometry before and after in vitro addition of MTX, MP or both drugs. Our results showed a reduction in the overall Th17 population followed by an increase in Th17 IL-10+ and Treg, after in vitro treatment of PBMCs with the drugs in patients with early RA. Long-standing disease patients showed a less evident increase in Treg cells and less e…
Heart Valve Abnormalities in Systemic Sclerosis Patients; A Multicenter Cohort Study and Review of the Literature
Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is characterized by vasculopathy and fibrosis of the skin and visceral organs. Heart valve diseases are poorly described and generally not considered typical of SSc. We aimed to describe valvular abnormalities in a multicenter cohort of SSc patients and to investigate their correlation with SSc features. Methods We recruited 118 consecutive SSc patients (male/female, 14/104; mean age, 55.2 ± 12.1 years) in 3 rheumatology centers in Sicily, Italy, from January to October 2019. Results Mitral and tricuspid valve insufficiency was found in 85% and 91% of patients, respectively; regurgitations were generally mild and never…
THU0260 IL-25 Axis Is Activated and Associated with An ILC2 and M2 Inflammatory State in Patients with Primary Sjogren's Syndrome
Background Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) and M2 polarized macrophages are activated and produce cytokines in response to IL-25/IL-17RB, although the relevance of this axis to immune responses in primary Sjoren9s syndrome (pSS) is unknown. Objectives We sought to investigate the role of the IL-25/IL-17RB axis and ILC2 and M2 macrophages in patients with pSS. Methods Expression analysis of IL-17B, IL-25, IL-33 and IL-17RB was performed by TaqMan real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry on salivary glands from 50 patients and 20 controls. Analysis of IL-17RB expression and the frequencies of natural type 2 innate lymphoid cells (nILC2), inflammatory ILC2 (iILC2), and M2-polarized macrophag…
T helper 1 response is correlated with widespread pain, fatigue, sleeping disorders and the quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia and is modulated by hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been used as treatment for different clinical conditions, including fibromyalgia (FM). HBOT modulates brain activity, ameliorates chronic pain and modifies the ratio of immune cells. Clinical studies have provided evidence that FM is associated with immune system dysregulation. In the present study we aimed to evaluate the effect of HBOT on immune system and on the quality of life-style of FM patients.Patients with primary FM and controls were treated with HBOT. Physical, emotional and social assessment, quality of sleep, tender points, intensity score, WPI and symptom severity were evaluated before and after HBOT. Furthermore, a characterisation of CD4 …