title: Surface expression of fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1) on CD4+/CD28 T cells in RA patients and correlation with atherosclerotic damage.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis. Fractalkine, a CX3C/chemokine (CX3CL1), mediates monocytes-macrophage infiltration in activated endothelium, suggesting its specific role in atherosclerosis-related inflammation. In this study, we evaluate the following in early RA patients: the expression of fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1) on CD4+/CD28- T cells, a subset involved in atherosclerotic infiltration; the correlation between this subset and validated markers of early atherosclerosis. CD4+ T cells were isolated by immunomagnetics beads in 50 early RA patients and 26 healthy controls (HC). After isolation, CD4+/CD28-/CX3CR1+ T lymphocytes were assessed by FACS analysis. Endothelial dysfunction was evaluated by both carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMV). We observed: a higher expansion of CD4+/CD28- subset in RA patients when compared to HC (7.7%, 5.15-9.7 vs. 0.7%, 0.2-1.5, P < 0.01; respectively); this expansion directly correlated with increased IMT (0.91 mm, 0.5-1.3 vs. 0.7 mm, 0.2-1, P < 0.01; RA vs. C, respectively) and inversely correlated with FMV (3.5%, 1.7-7 vs. 9%, 3.5-11, P < 0.01; RA vs. C, respectively); the large majority of CD4+/CD28-, in RA, coexpressed CX3CR1 (93%, 67-99 vs. 30%, 10-48, P < 0.01; RA vs. C, respectively); this expansion significantly correlated with both the parameters of premature vascular damage and DAS 28. Our data suggest that CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis might play a role in the induction and development of the endothelial dysfunction during RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio, Coppito, L'Aquila 67100, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pingiotti
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cipriani
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marrelli
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Liakouli
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fratini
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Penco
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giacomelli
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000073883:CX3C Chemokine Receptor 1; D006801:Humans; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000378:metabolism*