title: Circulating progenitor cells in rheumatoid arthritis: association with inflammation and oxidative stress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between inflammation, oxidative stress, and circulating progenitor cell (CPC) number and redox equilibrium, vascular lesions and accelerated atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Circulating CD34+ cells were isolated from 33 RA patients and 33 controls. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and mRNA expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase type 1 (GPx-1) antioxidant enzymes, and the gp91phox-containing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase NOX2 were measured in CD34+ cells. C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), and arterial stiffness (AS) were also evaluated. We investigated the relationships between inflammatory markers, vascular parameters, cell number, and antioxidant enzymes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD34+ cell number was lower in RA patients than in controls. In CD34+ cells from RA patients, ROS levels, MnSOD mRNA, and NOX2 mRNA were higher, while mRNA expression of GPx-1 and CAT was significantly lower. The AS, pulse wave velocity (PWV), and augmentation index (AIx) were higher, as was cIMT. CD34+ cell number was inversely correlated with CRP, ROS, PWV, and AIx, and with the CAT/MnSOD and GPx-1/MnSOD ratios. CRP was correlated with MnSOD mRNA, PWV, and AIx but not with CAT and GPx-1 mRNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show a link between inflammation, oxidative stress, and the impairment of the antioxidant system of CPCs and their number, and with arterial stiffness in RA subjects. This could suggest a perspective on the accelerated development of vascular damage and atherosclerosis in RA.
authors: Departments of Internal Medicine and Medical Therapy, University of Messina , Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Lo Gullo
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Mandraffino
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Sardo
authors: A
authors: A
authors: D'Ascola
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Mamone
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Loddo
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Alibrandi
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Imbalzano
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Mandraffino
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Mormina
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Saitta
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Lo Gullo
authors: A
authors: A
authors: David
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Saitta
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002374:Catalase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase