Abstract
Aim: Our work revealed the presence of CD3-CD4+ T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study investigated the correlation between this cell population, the disease activity, and inflammatory markers in RA.
Method: Demographic and clinical information along with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 44 RA patients and 10 healthy controls (HC) were collected from A3BC Biobank. Immune cell populations were identified using specific antibody panels through flow cytometry. Flow cytometric data were also analysed using FlowSOM and Cluster, and marker enrichment modeling in FlowJo10.
Results: In RA patients, CD3-CD4+ cells were higher compared to HC. These cells expressed higher levels of CD14 and human leukocyte antigens, positively associated with dendritic cells (DC, r = 0.46, p = 0.007), monocytes (r = 0.49, p = 0.004), and natural killer cells (r = 0.38, p = 0.031), but did not correlate with T cells, indicating innate-like cell properties. Within 38 RA patients, CD3-CD4+ cells were correlated with DAS28-ESR (r = −0.38, p = 0.049). In rheumatoid factor (RF) or anti-CCP positive patients (n = 17) however, these cells were adversely correlated with all disease activity markers including 28/66 Swollen Joint Count (r = −0.43, −0.55, p = 0.082, 0.023), 28/68 Tender Joint Count (r = −0.55, −0.55, p = 0.025, 0.023), DAS28-CRP (r = −0.68, p = 0.009), DAS28-ESR (r = −0.64, p = 0.016), and inflammatory markers CRP (r = −0.52, p = 0.041) and ESR (r = −0.54, p = 0.034). CD3-CD4+ cells showed linear correlations with DAS28-CRP/ESR (R2 = 0.34, 0.41, p = 0.03, 0.01). In RF and anti-CCP double-negative patients (n = 10), these cells only positively correlated with DC (r = 0.65, p = 0.037). In 6 RF or Anti-CCP positive patients, we found that the changes of CD3-CD4+ cells from 0 to 6/12 months were linearly correlated with disease activity changes during this period (DAS28-CRP, R2 = 0.8563, p = 0.0081, DAS28-ESR, R2 = 0.6, p = 0.07).
Conclusion: CD3-CD4+ cells were higher in RA patients, and likely linked to disease activity in anti-CCP or RF-positive patients with RA.
Method: Demographic and clinical information along with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 44 RA patients and 10 healthy controls (HC) were collected from A3BC Biobank. Immune cell populations were identified using specific antibody panels through flow cytometry. Flow cytometric data were also analysed using FlowSOM and Cluster, and marker enrichment modeling in FlowJo10.
Results: In RA patients, CD3-CD4+ cells were higher compared to HC. These cells expressed higher levels of CD14 and human leukocyte antigens, positively associated with dendritic cells (DC, r = 0.46, p = 0.007), monocytes (r = 0.49, p = 0.004), and natural killer cells (r = 0.38, p = 0.031), but did not correlate with T cells, indicating innate-like cell properties. Within 38 RA patients, CD3-CD4+ cells were correlated with DAS28-ESR (r = −0.38, p = 0.049). In rheumatoid factor (RF) or anti-CCP positive patients (n = 17) however, these cells were adversely correlated with all disease activity markers including 28/66 Swollen Joint Count (r = −0.43, −0.55, p = 0.082, 0.023), 28/68 Tender Joint Count (r = −0.55, −0.55, p = 0.025, 0.023), DAS28-CRP (r = −0.68, p = 0.009), DAS28-ESR (r = −0.64, p = 0.016), and inflammatory markers CRP (r = −0.52, p = 0.041) and ESR (r = −0.54, p = 0.034). CD3-CD4+ cells showed linear correlations with DAS28-CRP/ESR (R2 = 0.34, 0.41, p = 0.03, 0.01). In RF and anti-CCP double-negative patients (n = 10), these cells only positively correlated with DC (r = 0.65, p = 0.037). In 6 RF or Anti-CCP positive patients, we found that the changes of CD3-CD4+ cells from 0 to 6/12 months were linearly correlated with disease activity changes during this period (DAS28-CRP, R2 = 0.8563, p = 0.0081, DAS28-ESR, R2 = 0.6, p = 0.07).
Conclusion: CD3-CD4+ cells were higher in RA patients, and likely linked to disease activity in anti-CCP or RF-positive patients with RA.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e15172 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | Supplement 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2024 |
Event | 2024 Joint ARA and NZRA Annual Scientific Meeting - Christchurch, New Zealand Duration: 18 May 2024 → 21 May 2024 |
Keywords
- rheumatoid arthritis
- CD3-CD4+ T cells
- disease activity
- inflammatory markers