title: Total calcium-sensing receptor expression in circulating monocytes is increased in rheumatoid arthritis patients with severe coronary artery calcification.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human circulating monocytes express the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and are involved in atherosclerosis. This study investigated the potential association between vascular calcification in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and CaSR expression in circulating monocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 50 RA patients were compared to 25 control subjects matched for age and gender. Isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and flow cytometry analysis were performed to study the surface and total CaSR expression in circulating monocytes. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) scores were evaluated by computed tomography and an association between these scores and the surface and/or total CaSR expression in circulating monocytes in RA patients was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two groups were similar in terms of age (RA: 60.9 ± 8.3 years, versus controls: 59.6 ± 5.3 years) and gender (RA: 74.0% females versus 72.0% females). We did not find a higher prevalence and greater burden of CAC or AAC in RA patients versus age- and gender-matched controls. When compared with control subjects, RA patients did not exhibit greater total CaSR (101.6% ± 28.8 vs. 99.9% ± 22.0) or surface CaSR (104.6% ± 20.4 vs. 99.9% ± 13.7) expression, but total CaSR expression in circulating monocytes was significantly higher in RA patients with severe CAC (Agatston score ≥ 200, n = 11) than in patients with mild-to-moderate CAC (1 to 199, n = 21) (P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates for the first time that total CaSR expression in human circulating monocytes is increased in RA patients with severe coronary artery calcification.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paccou
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boudot
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Renard
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liabeuf
authors.forename: Said
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamel
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fardellone
authors.forename: Ziad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Massy
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brazier
authors.forename: Romuald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mentaverri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D044169:Receptors, Calcium-Sensing / Q000378:metabolism*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D044169:Receptors, Calcium-Sensing