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Publicação
Alterations on peripheral blood B-cell subpopulations in very early arthritis patients
Orientador(es)
Resumo(s)
Objective. To characterize circulating B-cell subpopulations of arthritis patients with <6 weeks of disease
duration.
Methods. Peripheral blood samples were collected from very early untreated polyarthritis patients, with
<6 weeks of disease duration, for flow cytometric evaluation of B-cell subpopulations. Samples from
patients who were later diagnosed as RA [very early RA (VERA)] were also collected 4–6 weeks after
starting a low dose of prednisone (5–10 mg) and 4 months after reaching the minimum effective dose of
MTX. A matched healthy group was used as a control.
Results. VERA patients have a lower percentage of total peripheral blood memory B cells (CD19+CD27+)
and a significant decrease in the frequency of circulating pre-switch memory B cells (CD19+IgD+CD27+) as
compared with controls. Therapy with corticosteroids or MTX was unable to restore the normal frequencies
of these B-cell subpopulations. A significant decrease in peripheral pre-switch memory B cells is
equally observed in other early arthritis patients. Furthermore, no significant differences are found in the
frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in all patient groups.
Conclusions. In very early polyarthritis patients, there is a reduction in circulating pre-switch memory
B cells. The reasons that may account for this effect are still unknown. Short-term corticosteroids and
MTX do not seem to have a direct effect on circulating B-cell subpopulations in VERA patients.
Descrição
©The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved.
Palavras-chave
Rheumatoid arthritis B cells Corticosteroids Methotrexate Autoimmunity
Contexto Educativo
Citação
Rheumatology 2010;49:1082–1092
Editora
Oxford University Press