title: Effects of B-lymphocyte dysfunction on the serum copper, selenium and zinc levels of rheumatoid arthritis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of B-lymphocyte dysfunction on the serum copper, selenium and zinc levels of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and to provide evidence for clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty RA patients enrolled in our hospital from August 2009 to August 2013 were selected as the observation group. Another 60 healthy subjects who received physical examinations in our hospital were selected as the control group. Their B-lymphocyte stimulator (BlyS) levels and CD19(+)CD25(+) lymphocyte percentages were determined. The levels of trace elements were measured, and correlation analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The BlyS levels of the observation group and the control group were (0.39±0.21) ng/ml and (0.13±0.04) ng/ml respectively, which were significantly different (P<0.05). The percentages of CD25(+), CD19(+) and CD19(+)CD25(+) lymphocytes in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The serum copper, selenium and zinc levels of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that the BlyS level was correlated with the levels of copper, selenium and zinc respectively (r=-0.541, -0.370, -0.430, P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rheumatoid Arthritis may be induced by BlyS-mediated B-lymphocyte dysplasia and dysfunction, accompanied by decreased expressions of copper, selenium and zinc.
authors.affiliation: Jiangtao Li, Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jiangtao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Yan Liang, Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Hejuan Mao, Department of Otolaryngology, The First People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin 644000, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Hejuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Wenyu Deng, Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin 644000, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Wenyu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Jie Zhang, Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First People's Hospital of Yibin, Yibin 644000, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: B-lymphocyte; Dysfunction; Rheumatoid arthritis; Trace element