Relation of Cytokine Profile and Antibody Values to Post-Translational Protein Modifications in Patients with...

The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between cytokine levels and values of antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACCP) and antibodies to carbamylated proteins (anti-CarP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

. A total of 106 patients with a reliable diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis were included in the study. Determination of anti-CarP and anti-CCP was performed by enzyme immunoassay. Patients were divided into subgroups depending on the values of ACCP and anti-CarP. The concentration of 27 cytokines in serum was determined using multiplex xMAR technology.

. When comparing immunological subgroups, ACCP(+) patients had higher concentrations of IL-1β, IL-1Ra, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, FGF, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α, TGFb, TNF-α, and VEGF. IL-5, IL-9, eotaxin, MIP-1β, and RANTES values were higher in ACCP(-) patients. In the subgroup of ACCP(-) patients, an inverse correlation between IL-5 and total Sharpe score and between IL-9 and DAS28-CRP was found. In anti-CarP(-) patients (n = 73), higher values of IL-17 were recorded.

. Our data support the concept of RA heterogeneity, characterized by the existence of different clinical and immunological subtypes, which may have implications for improving personalised therapy.