Anti-type II collagen antibodies are associated with early radiographic destruction in rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction

We have previously reported that high levels of antibodies specific for native human type II collagen (anti-CII) at the time of RA diagnosis were associated with concurrent but not later signs of inflammation. This was associated with CII/anti-CII immune complex (IC)-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro. In contrast, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) were associated both with late inflammation and late radiological destruction in the same RA cohort. We therefore hypothesized that anti-CII are also associated with early erosions.

Methods

Two-hundred-and-fifty-six patients from an early RA cohort were included. Baseline levels of anti-CII, anti-CCP and anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin were analyzed with ELISA, and rheumatoid factor levels were determined by nephelometry. Radiographs of hands and feet at baseline, after one and after two years were quantified using the 32-joints Larsen erosion score.

Results

Levels of anti-CII were bimodally distributed in the RA cohort, with a small (3.1%, 8/256) group of very high outliers with a median level 87 times higher than the median for the healthy control group. Using a cut-off discriminating the outlier group that was associated with anti-CII IC-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines in vitro, baseline anti-CII antibodies were significantly (p = 0.0486) associated with increased radiographic damage at the time of diagnosis. Anti-CII-positive patient had also significantly increased HAQ score (p = 0.0303), CRP (p = 0.0026) and ESR (p = 0.0396) at the time of diagnosis but not during follow-up. The median age among anti-CII-positive subjects was 12 years higher than among the anti-CII-negative patients.

Conclusion

In contrary to anti-CCP, anti-CII-positive patients with RA have increased joint destruction and HAQ score at baseline. Anti-CII thus characterizes an early inflammatory/destructive phenotype, in contrast to the late appearance of an inflammatory/destructive phenotype in anti-CCP positive RA patients. The anti-CII phenotype might account for part of the elderly acute onset RA phenotype with rather good prognosis.     

Immunomodulation of Antimicrobial Peptides Expression in the Gastrointestinal Tract by Probiotics in Response to Stimulation by Salmonella minnesota Lipopolysaccharides

The aim was to determine whether probiotics-feeding can affect the expression and localization of avian beta defensins (AvBDs) and proinflammatory cytokines in response to Salmonella minnesota lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the gastrointestinal tract. One-day-old male Chunky broiler chicks were fed with or without 0.4% probiotics for 7 days (P-group and non-P-group, respectively). Then, they were orally challenged with no LPS (0-LPS), 1 µg LPS (1-LPS), or 100 µg LPS (100-LPS) (n = 5, each), in experiment 1, and with no LPS and 1 µg LPS (n = 6, each) in experiment 2. Five hours after LPS challenge, the proventriculi and ceca were collected. A total of seven and eight AvBDs were identified in proventriculus and cecum, respectively. The density of ir-AvBD12 in the surface epithelium of proventriculus increased in the P-group in response to 1-LPS and 100-LPS stimulation. In experiment 1, the expression of two AvBDs in the proventriculus and six AvBDs in the cecum of 1-LPS chicks was higher in P-group than in the non-P-group. Results of experiment 2 showed similar tendency to experiment 1. These results suggest that probiotics-feeding may enhance the immunodefense system mediated by AvBDs but not by cytokine, against infection by Gram-negative bacteria.

     

First record of non-marine ostracods from the Paleogene “hamadian deposits” of Méridja area,west of Bechar (southwestern Algeria)

A new non-marine ostracod fauna from the Paleogene “hamadian deposits” outcropping west of Bechar (southwestern Algeria) has been recovered from lacustrine to fluvial deposits of the Oued Méridja section and fluvial deposits on the southern edge of the Hamada de Méridja section. Recently, these sections have been dated as late Thanetian – early Ypresian (latest Paleocene to earliest Eocene) and Ypresian – earliest Lutetian (early to earliest middle Eocene), respectively, based on charophytes. The associated ostracod fauna recovered consists of relatively mostly moderately to badly preserved specimens and comprises 14 taxa, none of which could be identified to species level in view of its poor state of preservation; we have nevertheless been able to identify and describe the following taxa: Herpetocypris sp., Cyprinotus? sp., Heterocypris? sp. 1 and sp. 2, Cypris? sp., Ilyocypris sp., Cytheroidea indet. sp. 1 and sp. 2, Limnocytheridae indet. sp. 1, Cypridoidea indet. sp. 1, Cyprididae indet. sp. 1, and Ostracoda indet. sp. 1, 2 and 3. Only Heterocypris sp. 1 occurs in both sections. Although the fauna can as yet not be related to the few other contemporaneous faunas reported from the wider palaeogeographic area, it adds important new information to our poor knowledge on Eocene non-marine ostracods in North Africa and southern Europe. The Méridja sections and area are promising regarding the discovery of more, better preserved material and further studies, and one main limitation to the correlation of the fauna is the hitherto insufficient taxonomic knowledge on many faunal elements of Eocene non-marine ostracods to which our section contributes considerably.     

Polymorphism of Fecundity Genes (FecB,FecX, and FecG) in the Indian Bonpala Sheep

The 37-kDa laminin receptor precursor/67-kDa laminin receptor (LRP/LR, also known as ribosomal protein SA, RPSA) has been reported to be involved in cancer development and prion internalization. Previous studies have shown that the LRP/LR is expressed in a wide variety of tissues. In particular, expression of LRP/LR mRNA may be closely related to the degree of PrP^Sc propagation. This study presents a detailed investigation of the LRP/LR mRNA expression levels in eleven normal ovine tissues. Using real-time quantitative PCR, the highest LRP/LR expression was found in neocortex (p < 0.05). Slightly lower levels were found in the heart and obex. Intermediate levels were seen in hippocampus, cerebellum, spleen, thalamus, mesenteric lymph node, and the lowest levels were present in liver, kidney, and lung. In general, the LRP/LR mRNA levels were much higher in neuronal tissues than in peripheral tissues. The observation that differences in LRP/LR mRNA expression levels are consistent with the corresponding variation in PrP^Sc accumulation suggests that the 37-kDa/67-kDa laminin receptor may be involved in the regulation of PrP^Sc propagation.     

Cation transport mechanisms in Mycoplasma mycoides var. Capri cells. The nature of the link between K+ and Na+ transport

We have studied the links between the mechanisms of Na(+), K(+) and H(+) movements in glycolysing Mycoplasma mycoides var. Capri cells. In the light of the results reported in the preceding paper [Benyoucef, Rigaud & Leblanc (1982) Biochem. J.208, 529-538], we investigated certain properties of the membrane-bound ATPase of Mycoplasma cells, with special reference to its ionic requirements and sensitivity to specific inhibitors. Our findings show, first, that, although Na(+) stimulated ATPase activity, K(+) did not affect it, and, secondly, that NN'-dicyclocarboidi-imide and 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD) were potent inhibitors of the basal ATPase activity, which was unaffected by vanadate and ouabain. We also investigated the movements of Na(+) and H(+) under the experimental conditions applied to the study of the K(+) uptake reported in the preceding paper, and found that when ;Na(+)-loaded cells' previously equilibrated with (22)Na(+) were diluted in a sodium-free medium, addition of glucose induced a rapid efflux of (22)Na(+). This energy-dependent efflux was independent of the presence of KCl in the medium. Studies of the changes in internal pH by 9-aminoacridine fluorescence or [(14)C]methylamine distribution indicated that the movement of Na(+) was coupled to that of protons moving in the opposite direction, a finding that supports the presence of an Na(+)/H(+) antiport. When Na(+)-loaded cells are diluted in an Na(+)-rich medium the Na(+)/H(+) antiport is still active, but cannot decrease the intracellular Na(+) concentration. Under such conditions, net (22)Na(+) extrusion is specifically dependent on the presence of K(+) in the medium. The present results and those derived from the study of K(+) accumulation (the preceding paper) can be rationalized by assuming that Mycoplasma mycoides var. Capri cells contain two transport systems for Na(+) extrusion: an Na(+)/H(+) antiport and an ATP-consuming Na(+)/K(+)-exchange system.     

An in vitro demonstration of peroxisome proliferation and increase in peroxisomal β-oxidation system mRNAs in cultured rat hepatocytes treated with ciprofibrate

Using the normal adult rat hepatocytes, plated on rat tail collagen-coated dishes and fed a chemically defined medium, we demonstrate here that ciprofibrate at 0.1 mM concentration, increases significantly the mRNA levels of fatty acyl-CoA oxidase, enoyl-CoA hydratase/3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase bifunctional protein, and thiolase (the three enzymes of the β-oxidation system), and causes peroxisome proliferation. Increase in mRNA levels of these genes was evident within 1 h and was maximal 24 h after the addition of ciprofibrate. In hepatocytes cultured in the absence of ciprofibrate, the basal levels of these enzymes were low and further declined with time. Concomitant treatment of hepatocytes with cycloheximide did not inhibit or superinduce the mRNA levels, indicating that this induction may represent a primary (direct) effect of this compound on the expression of these genes and does not apparently involve short-lived repressor protein(s).     

Resistance to Alpha/Beta Interferons Correlates with the Epizootic and Virulence Potential of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Viruses and Is Determined by the 5′ Noncoding Region and Glycoproteins

We compared the alpha/beta interferon (IFN-α/β) sensitivities of the TC-83 vaccine strain and 24 enzootic and epizootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) isolates. The IFN-resistant or -sensitive phenotype correlated well with epizootic or enzootic potential. IFN-α/β resistance of Trinidad donkey (TRD) virus correlated with virulence determinants in the 5′ noncoding region and glycoproteins. Infection of mice lacking a functional IFN system with the IFN-sensitive TC-83 virus resulted in disease equivalent to that produced by the virulent, IFN-resistant TRD virus, further demonstrating that IFN resistance contributes to VEE virus virulence and is a biological marker of epizootic potential.     

Photo oxidation of rice starch II. Using a water soluble photo initiator

A new photo oxidation system was established when rice starch was oxidized using UV irradiation and 4-(trimethyl ammoniummethyl) benzophenone chloride (BP2) as a photo initiator. BP2 is a water soluble photo initiator. The slurry prepared for photo oxidation contained rice starch, water and BP2 only. No oxidizing agents were added. Parameters affecting the photo oxidation process, i.e. temperature, concentration of BP2, material:liquor ratio and irradiation time were determined. The produced oxidized starch was evaluated by measuring the carboxyl content, carbonyl content and apparent viscosity. The produced photo oxidized rice starch showed sound increase in the carboxyl and carbonyl contents and sharp decrease in the apparent viscosity. The produced photo oxidized starch was tested for its suitability as a sizing agent for cotton yarns. Native starch and oxidized starch, used as a sizing agent by Misr Company of Spinning and Weaving in El-Mahalla El-Kubra (Egypt), were used for comparison. Sized cotton yarns were evaluated by measuring the tensile strength, elongation at break and percent of size removal. Cotton yarns sized using the prepared photo oxidized rice starch showed higher tensile strength, elongation at break and percent of size removal compared with native starch and oxidized starch used by Misr Company of Spinning and Weaving.