title: Inflammatory gene profile in early rheumatoid arthritis and modulation by leflunomide and prednisone treatment.
abstract: The effects of low dose prednisone (PD) alone or in combination with leflunomide (LEF) were tested on inflammatory gene expression in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Ten RA patients were assigned as group A (untreated)and group B (pretreated with PD 5 mg/day for 3 months -T0). Therefore, both groups were treated with LFN (20mg/day). Expression ratio of 34 inflammatory genes was detected by microarray analysis in early RA patients and CNT (5), before (T0), and after 3 months (T1) of combined therapy (PN+LFN). At T0, 17 genes linked with arthritis were found altered in early RA, (A and B groups), compared to CNT. At T1 in the group A, 41% of genes were found unchanged, 12% upregulated, and 47% downregulated, whereas in the group B, 65% of genes were found unchanged, 6% upregulated, and 29% downregulated. The results suggest that the combination of PN and LEF seems to play a synergistic effect by modulating some inflammatory genes in early RA.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory and Academic Unit of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy. mcutolo@unige.it
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cutolo
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Villaggio
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pizzorni
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paolino
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonassi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sulli
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seriolo
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montagna
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soldano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics*; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077339:Leflunomide; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007555:Isoxazoles; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000077339:Leflunomide; D011241:Prednisone