Increased production of circulating soluble co-stimulatory molecules CTLA-4, CD28 and CD80 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Co-stimulatory molecules are key immunoregulatory mediators in regulating T lymphocyte-mediated immune responses and inflammatory reactions. Here we investigated whether there is altered expression and the clinical significance of circulating soluble co-stimulatory molecules in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Serum concentrations of sCTLA-4, sCD28, sCD80 and sCD86 in 56 RA patients, and 32 sex- and age-matched control subjects were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results showed that serum sCTLA-4, sCD28, and CD80 but not CD86 concentrations in all RA patients were significantly higher than concentrations in healthy control subjects. And there was significant and positive correlation between serum CTLA-4 and sCD28, sCD28 and sCD80, or sCTLA-4 and sCD80 in all RA patients. Serum sCTLA-4 concentration in all RA patients correlated significantly with disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28). Moreover, immunosuppressant treatment with leflunomide could downregulate the increased levels of sCTLA-4, sCD28, and CD80 in RA patients. Therefore, the elevated production of circulating soluble T-cell co-stimulatory molecules should contribute to the pathogenesis of RA, and serum sCTLA-4 could potentially serve as a new marker of RA disease activity.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
Ju
J
Cao
Lin
L
Zou
Peixin
P
Luo
Pu
P
Chen
Liping
L
Zhang
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D001323:Autoantibodies; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001323:Autoantibodies; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D018106:CD28 Antigens; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human