Heightened Levels of Antimicrobial Response Factors in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Microbiology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease causing progressive disability.
• RA is associated with autoantibodies and proposed links to microbial dysbiosis.
• Systemic bacterial exposure may increase antimicrobial response factors (ARFs) in RA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate elevated ARF levels in RA patients.
• To analyze serum levels of sCD14, lysozyme, CXCL16, LBP, and various antibodies in RA patients and controls.
• To correlate ARF levels with disease severity and rheumatoid factor (RF).

Main Methods:

• Serum samples from RA patients and healthy controls were analyzed.
• Levels of soluble CD14 (sCD14), lysozyme, CXCL16, lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), and anti-endotoxin core antibodies (EndoCAb) were measured.
• Correlations between ARFs, antibodies, RF, and disease severity were assessed.

Main Results:

• RA patients had significantly higher levels of sCD14, lysozyme, and CXCL16 compared to controls.
• Elevated IgM and IgA EndoCAb and total IgM/IgA were observed in RA patients.
• Lysozyme and CXCL16 levels positively correlated with RA disease severity.

Conclusions:

• Increased ARFs and specific antibodies in RA suggest heightened systemic microbial exposure.
• These microbial factors may play a role in RA pathogenesis.
• Modulating microbial exposure could be a therapeutic strategy for RA.