NETosis-Related Biomarkers in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis and Ankylosing...

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology and Immunology
• Cellular Biology
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• NETosis is implicated in rheumatic diseases like SLE, RA, PsA, and AS.
• Circulating NETosis biomarker levels and their disease-specific changes require further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare NETosis markers (cfDNA, MPO, H3cit) across SLE, RA, PsA, and AS.
• To identify disease-specific NETosis profiles and associations with clinical factors.

Main Methods:

• Quantification of total, nuclear, and mitochondrial cell-free DNA (cfDNA).
• Measurement of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and citrullinated histone H3 (H3cit) as specific NETosis markers.
• Statistical analysis (ANCOVA) adjusting for sex, age, and disease duration.

Main Results:

• Elevated total cfDNA in SLE and AS; nuclear and mitochondrial cfDNA increased in all four diseases.
• Significantly higher MPO and H3cit in SLE, with MPO also elevated in RA.
• SLE patients with high MPO/H3cit had co-existing cardiovascular diseases; biological therapy affected mitochondrial cfDNA, MPO, and H3cit.

Conclusions:

• Distinct NETosis marker profiles characterize SLE, RA, PsA, and AS.
• SLE shows the most pronounced NETosis activity, followed by RA.
• cfDNA increases are prominent in PsA and AS, suggesting different pathogenic roles of NETosis.