Phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4 is a superfamily of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP), an intracellular second messenger and regulator of a wide array of ...genes and proteins. Increased levels of intracellular cAMP lead to activation of genes but also to inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B, involved in pro-inflammatory responses. By increasing cAMP levels, PDE4 inhibitors, such as apremilast, reduced production of pro-inflammatory TNFα, IFNγ, and IL-17 and increased production of anti-inflammatory IL-10 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Among PDE4 inhibitors, apremilast, roflumilast, and crisabolore have been approved for the treatment of psoriasis and PsA, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and atopic dermatitis, respectively. In a preliminary study on psoriasis and PsA we showed that at 6 months apremilast decreased IFNγ+CD3+ Th1 cells and IL- 17+CD3+ Th17 cells and increased regulatory B cells and regulatory T cells. In this review, we highlight recent findings of PDE4 inhibitors in atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, uveitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and PsA, systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, systemic sclerosis, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease. Given the role of cAMP as second messenger in diverse intracellular pathways, selective PDE4 inhibitors are likely to be therapeutic agents for various immune mediated diseases.
Abstract Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a psoriasis (Ps)-associated inflammatory joint disease that affects peripheral joints, entheses, spine, and eyes. PsA and Ps are likely to be the same disease. ...PsA develops in nearly 70% of patients with Ps, and the hallmark of the disease is bone erosions and bone formation. Both innate and adaptive immunity appear to contribute to pathogenesis of PsA and Ps. Trauma may be a trigger factor for both PsA and Ps. The same T cell clones were reported to be present in both synovial tissues and skin lesions suggesting that a common antigen drives T cell immune response in the joints and skin lesions of patients with PsA. The IL-23/IL-17 axis plays a critical pathogenic role for both PsA and Ps, and biologics neutralizing IL-17A or IL-23/IL-12 are effective therapies for PsA and Ps. The differential expression of Th17 cytokines IL-17 and IL-22 at various sites could explain the different manifestations of the disease. IL-17 is highly expressed in peripheral joints and skin lesions and causes bone erosions. IL-22 is highly expressed in skin lesions and entheses, not peripheral joints, and cause bone formation. Finally, mannan from baker's yeast caused PsA-like arthritis and Ps-like skin lesions that were blocked by IL-17 treatment. These data suggest that PsA and Ps are likely to be the same disease exhibiting different manifestations depending on the local cytokine production.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Numerous types of cancer have been shown to be associated with either ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. In this review, the epidemiology and pathophysiology of stroke in cancer patients is discussed, ...while providing vital information on the diagnosis and management of patients with cancer and stroke. Cancer may mediate stroke pathophysiology either directly or via coagulation disorders that establish a state of hypercoagulation, as well as via infections. Cancer treatment options, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery have all been shown to aggravate the risk of stroke as well. The clinical manifestation varies greatly depending upon the underlying cause; however, in general, cancer-associated strokes tend to appear as multifocal in neuroimaging. Furthermore, several serum markers have been identified, such as high D-Dimer levels and fibrin degradation products. Managing cancer patients with stroke is a delicate matter. The cancer should not be considered a contraindication in applying thrombolysis and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) administration, since the risk of hemorrhage in cancer patients has not been reported to be higher than that in the general population. Anticoagulation, on the contrary, should be carefully examined. Clinicians should weigh the benefits and risks of anticoagulation treatment for each patient individually; the new oral anticoagulants appear promising; however, low-molecular-weight heparin remains the first choice. On the whole, stroke is a serious and not a rare complication of malignancy. Clinicians should be adequately trained to handle these patients efficiently. Key words: stroke, cancer, cancer-associated stroke, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke
Psoriasis, an inflammatory skin disease, and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), an inflammatory arthritis, share clinical, genetic, and pathogenic factors and may be summed as one disease, the psoriatic ...disease. Interleukin (IL)-17 plays a major role in the development of both psoriasis and PsA. IL-23 is important in the proliferation and maintenance of IL-17, and therefore, cytokines of the IL-23/IL-17 axis attracted much interest as therapeutic targets in psoriasis and PsA. Therapeutic agents targeting the IL-23/IL-17 axis have been proven to be very effective in psoriasis and PsA, some are already in the therapeutic armamentarium and others are in the development. Some agents, target IL-23 and others IL-17 and include anti-IL-12/IL-23 p40 (ustekinumab, briankizumab), anti-IL-23p19 (guselkumab, tildrakizumab, risankizumab, brazikumab, mirikizumab), anti-IL-17A (secukinumab, ixekizumab), dual anti-IL-17A and anti-IL-17F (bimekizumab), or anti-IL-17 receptor (brodalumab) monoclonal antibodies. Janus tyrosine kinase(JAK) inhibitors also directly affect IL-23 and, thus, IL-17. After the first-generation pan-JAK inhibitors have been shown efficacy (tofacitinib, baricitinib), new-generation selective JAK inhibitors (filgotinib, upadacitinib) are under investigation in psoriasis and PsA.
Liver-related autoantibodies are crucial for the correct diagnosis and classification of autoimmune liver diseases(AiLD),namely autoimmune hepatitis types 1 and 2(AIH-1 and 2),primary biliary ...cirrhosis(PBC),and the sclerosing cholangitis variants in adults and children.AIH-1 is specified by anti-nuclear antibody(ANA) and smooth muscle antibody(SMA).AIH-2 is specified by antibody to liver kidney microsomal antigen type-1(anti-LKM1) and anti-liver cytosol type 1(anti-LC1).SMA,ANA and anti-LKM antibodies can be present in de-novo AIH following liver transplantation.PBC is specified by antimitochondrial antibodies(AMA) reacting with enzymes of the 2-oxo-acid dehydrogenase complexes(chiefly pyruvate dehydrogenase complex E2 subunit) and disease-specific ANA mainly react-ing with nuclear pore gp210 and nuclear body sp100.Sclerosing cholangitis presents as at least two variants,first the classical primary sclerosing cholangitis(PSC) mostly affecting adult men wherein the only(and non-specific) reactivity is an atypical perinuclear antineutro-phil cytoplasmic antibody(p-ANCA),also termed perinuclear anti-neutrophil nuclear antibodies(p-ANNA) and second the childhood disease called autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis(ASC) with serological features resembling those of type 1 AIH.Liver diagnostic serology is a fast-expanding area of investigation as new purified and recombinant autoantigens,and automatedtechnologies such as ELISAs and bead assays,become available to complement(or even compete with) traditional immunofluorescence procedures.We survey for the first time global trends in quality assurance impacting as it does on(1) manufacturers/purveyors of kits and reagents,(2) diagnostic service laboratories that fulfill clinicians' requirements,and(3) the end-user,the physician providing patient care,who must properly interpret test results in the overall clinical context.
The International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) recommends metformin (MET) use for metabolic disturbances and hyperglycemia, either in combination with insulin therapy or ...alone. A caveat of MET therapy has been suggested to be biochemical vitamin B12 deficiency, as seen mainly in studies conducted in adults. In the present case–control study, children and adolescents of different weight status tiers on MET therapy for a median of 17 months formed the cases group (n = 23) and were compared with their peers not taking MET (n = 46). Anthropometry, dietary intake, and blood assays were recorded for both groups. MET group members were older, heavier, and taller compared with the controls, although BMI z-scores did not differ. In parallel, blood phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations were lower in the MET group, whereas MCV, Δ4-androstenedione, and DHEA-S were higher. No differences were observed in the HOMA-IR, SHBG, hemoglobin, HbA1c, vitamin B12, or serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations between groups. Among those on MET, 17.4% exhibited vitamin B12 deficiency, whereas none of the controls had low vitamin B12 concentrations. Participants on MET therapy consumed less energy concerning their requirements, less vitamin B12, more carbohydrates (as a percentage of the energy intake), and fewer fats (including saturated and trans fats) compared with their peers not on MET. None of the children received oral nutrient supplements with vitamin B12. The results suggest that, in children and adolescents on MET therapy, the dietary intake of vitamin B12 is suboptimal, with the median coverage reaching 54% of the age- and sex-specific recommended daily allowance. This low dietary intake, paired with MET, may act synergistically in reducing the circulating vitamin B12 concentrations. Thus, caution is required when prescribing MET in children and adolescents, and replacement is warranted.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (HLA-DRB1SE) and anti-citrullinated protein autoantibodies (ACPAs). ACPAs precedes the onset of clinical and subclinical RA. There ...are strong data for three infectious agents as autoimmunity triggers in RA, namely
and
causes of periodontal disease (PD), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
expresses arginine gingipains, that cleave proteins at the arginine residues, and peptidyl arginine deiminase (PPAD), which citrullinates arginine residues of proteins, thus forming neoantigens that lead to ACPA production. Peripheral blood plasmablasts from ACPA+RA patients produce ACPAs the majority of which react against
produces leukotoxin A, a toxin that forms pores in the neutrophil membranes and leads to citrullination and release of citrullinated autoantigens in the gums. EBV can infect B cells and epithelial cells and resides as latent infection in resting B cells. Abs against citrullinated peptides derived from EBV nuclear antigen appear years before RA and cross-react with human citrullinated fibrin. Citrullinated proteins are potential arthritogenic autoantigens in RA. The conversion of arginine to citrulline increases the peptide binding affinity to HLA-DRB1SE. Also, citrullinated fibrinogen induces arthritis in HLA-DRB1
0401 transgenic mice, and transfer of their splenic T cells causes arthritis to recipient mice.
This document follows up on a 2017 revised international consensus on anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA) testing in granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis and focuses ...on the clinical and diagnostic value of ANCA detection in patients with connective tissue diseases, idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, autoimmune liver diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease, infections, malignancy, and during drug treatment. Current evidence suggests that in certain settings beyond systemic vasculitis, ANCA may have clinical, pathogenic and/or diagnostic relevance. Antigen-specific ANCA targeting proteinase-3 and myeloperoxidase should be tested by solid phase immunoassays in any patient with clinical features suggesting ANCA-associated vasculitis and in all patients with anti-GBM disease, idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, and infective endocarditis associated with nephritis, whereas in patients with other aforementioned disorders routine ANCA testing is not recommended. Among patients with autoimmune liver diseases or inflammatory bowel diseases, ANCA testing may be justified in patients with suspected autoimmune hepatitis type 1 who do not have conventional autoantibodies or in case of diagnostic uncertainty to discriminate ulcerative colitis from Crohn’s disease. In these cases, ANCA should be tested by indirect immunofluorescence as the target antigens are not yet well characterized. Many questions concerning the optimal use of ANCA testing in patients without ANCA-associated vasculitis remain to be answered.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Porphyromonas gingivalis and rheumatoid arthritis Perricone, Carlo; Ceccarelli, Fulvia; Matteo, Saccucci ...
Current opinion in rheumatology,
2019-September, 2019-09-00, 20190901, Volume:
31, Issue:
5
Journal Article
PURPOSE OF REVIEWTo explore the pathogenic association between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis focusing on the role of Porphyromonas gingivalis.
RECENT FINDINGSIn the last decades our ...knowledge about the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis substantially changed. Several evidences demonstrated that the initial production of autoantibodies is not localized in the joint, rather in other immunological-active sites. A central role seems to be played by periodontal disease, in particular because of the ability of P. gingivalis to induce citrullination, the posttranslational modification leading to the production of anticitrullinated protein/peptide antibodies, the most sensitive and specific rheumatoid arthritis biomarker.
SUMMARYThe pathogenic role of P. gingivalis has been demonstrated in mouse models in which arthritis was either triggered or worsened in infected animals. P. gingivalis showed its detrimental role not only by inducing citrullination but also by means of other key mechanisms including induction of NETosis, osteoclastogenesis, and Th17 proinflammatory response leading to bone damage and systemic inflammation.