title: Crosstalk between inflammation, iron metabolism and endothelial function in Behçet's disease.
abstract: Behçet's disease (BD) is a rare chronic vasculitis of unclear etiology. It has been suggested that inflammatory response has an important role in BD pathophysiology. Herein, we aimed to study the interplay between inflammation, iron metabolism and endothelial function in BD and search for its putative association with disease activity. Twenty five patients clinically diagnosed with BD were selected and twenty four healthy age-sex matched individuals participated as controls. Results showed an increase of total number of circulating white blood cells and neutrophils, serum transferrin, total iron binding capacity, mieloperoxidase (MPO), ceruloplasmin (Cp), C reactive protein, β2 microglobulin and Cp surface expression in peripheral blood monocytes in BD patients comparatively to healthy individuals (p < 0,05). Of notice, the alterations observed were associated to disease activity status. No significant differences between the two groups were found in serum nitric oxide concentration. The results obtained suggest an important contribution from innate immunity in the pathogenesis of this disease. In particular, surface expression of leukocyte-derived Cp may constitute a new and relevant biomarker to understand BD etiology.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr Ricardo Jorge I.P., Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Napoleão
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr Ricardo Jorge I.P., Lisboa, Portugal Centro para a Biodiversidade, Genómica Integrativa e Funcional, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Banha
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr Ricardo Jorge I.P., Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paixão
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Andreia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bettencourt
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Berta Martins
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Hospital Reinaldo dos Santos, Vila Franca De Xira, Portugal.
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Instituto Português de Reumatologia, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Filipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barcelos
authors.affiliation: Instituto Português de Reumatologia, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Instituto Português de Reumatologia, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Vaz
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Patto
authors.affiliation: CESAM, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Viegas-Crespo
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr Ricardo Jorge I.P., Lisboa, Portugal Centro para a Biodiversidade, Genómica Integrativa e Funcional, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000032:analysis; D004727:Endothelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D007501:Iron; D002570:Ceruloplasmin
keywords: Behçet's disease; disease activity; endothelial function; inflammation; iron metabolism