title: The pathogenic Th profile of human activated memory Th cells in early rheumatoid arthritis can be modulated by VIP.
abstract: Our aim is to study the behavior of memory Th cells (Th17, Th17/1, and Th1 profiles) from early rheumatoid arthritis (eRA) patients after their in vitro activation/expansion to provide information about its contribution to RA chronicity. Moreover, we analyzed the potential involvement of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) as an endogenous healing mediator. CD4(+)CD45RO(+) T cells from PBMCs of HD and eRA were activated/expanded in vitro in the presence/absence of VIP. FACS, ELISA, RT-PCR, and immunocytochemistry analyses were performed. An increase in CCR6(+)/RORC(+) cells and in RORC-proliferating cells and a decrease in T-bet-proliferating cells and T-bet(+)/RORC(+) cells were shown in eRA. mRNA expression of IL-17, IL-2, RORC, RORA, STAT3, and Tbx21 and protein secretion of IL-17, IFNγ, and GM-CSF were higher in eRA. VIP decreased the mRNA expression of IL-22, IL-2, STAT3, Tbx21, IL-12Rβ2, IL-23R, and IL-21R in HD and it decreased IL-21, IL-2, and STAT3 in eRA. VIP decreased IL-22 and GM-CSF secretion and increased IL-9 secretion in HD and it decreased IL-21 secretion in eRA. VPAC2/VPAC1 ratio expression was increased in eRA. All in all, memory Th cells from eRA patients show a greater proportion of Th17 cells with a pathogenic Th17 and Th17/1 profile compared to HD. VIP is able to modulate the pathogenic profile, mostly in HD. Our results are promising for therapy in the early stages of RA because they suggest that targeting molecules involved in the pathogenic Th17, Th17/1, and Th1 phenotypes and targeting VIP receptors could have a therapeutic effect modulating these subsets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Th17 cells are more important than Th1 in the contribution to pathogenesis in eRA patients. Pathogenic Th17 and Th17/1 profile are abundant in activated/expanded memory Th cells from eRA patients. VIP decreases the pathogenic Th17, Th1, and Th17/1 profiles, mainly in healthy donors. The expression of VIP receptors is reduced in eRA patients respect to healthy donors, whereas the ratio of VPAC2/VPAC1 expression is higher.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jimeno
authors.forename: Rosa P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Gomariz
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garín
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Cañas
authors.forename: Isidoro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: González-Álvaro
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrión
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galindo
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leceta
authors.forename: Yasmina
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Juarranz
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018005:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000235:genetics; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018005:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide