Immune activation in the small intestine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

• Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases Vol. 63; no. 10; pp. 1327 - 1330
• Main Authors: Nissinen, R, Leirisalo-Repo, M, Nieminen, A M, Halme, L, Färkkilä, M, Palosuo, T, Vaarala, O
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism 01.10.2004; BMJ; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - immunology; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; chemokine receptors; Chemokines; Concise Report; Concise reports; Cytokines; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Cytokines - genetics; Disease; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Duodenum - immunology; Duodenum - pathology; Endoscopy; Female; Gastroesophageal reflux; Gastroscopy; Gene Expression; Hernias; Histology; Humans; IL, interleukin; Inflammation; Inflammatory joint diseases; INFγ; INFγ, interferon γ; interferon γ; interleukin; Interleukin-10 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-10 - genetics; intestine; Lymphocytes; Male; Medical sciences; MEDICIN; MEDICINE; Middle Aged; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; Receptors, CCR4; Receptors, CCR5 - biosynthesis; Receptors, CCR5 - genetics; Receptors, Chemokine - biosynthesis; Receptors, Chemokine - genetics; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rheumatic diseases; Rheumatism; Rheumatoid arthritis; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RT-PCR; RT-PCR, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction; Stomach - pathology; TGFβ; TGFβ, transforming growth factor β; TNFα; TNFα, tumour necrosis factor α; transforming growth factor β; tumour necrosis factor α; Ulcers; Human; Immunopathology; Chronic; Rheumatoid arthritis; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Rheumatology; Autoimmune disease; Inflammatory joint disease; Activation; Small intestine
• ISSN: 0003-4967; 1468-2060; 1468-2060
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.2003.011304

Objectives: To determine whether inflammation in the gut associated immune system is activated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The expression of chemokine receptor- (CCR4, CCR5) and cytokine- (interleukin (IL)2, IL10, interferon γ (IFNγ), tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)) specific mRNA in intestinal biopsy samples from patients with RA was examined. Methods: Duodenal biopsy samples from 13 patients with RA and 15 control subjects were studied. The mRNA expression of CCR4, CCR5, IL2, IL10, IFNγ, TNFα, and TGFβ in intestinal biopsy samples was demonstrated by real time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Results: The mRNA expression of CCR4, CCR5, and IL10 in intestinal biopsy samples was increased in patients with RA in comparison with control subjects (p = 0.001, p = 0.046, p = 0.019). No difference in the expression levels of IL2, IFNγ, TNFα, or TGFβ was seen between patients with RA and controls. Conclusions: The increased intestinal mRNA expression of IL10, CCR5, and CCR4 suggests that gut associated immune cells are activated in patients with RA.