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Background: This prospective multicenter study developed an integrative clinical and molecular longitudinal study in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients to explore changes in serologic parameters following anti-TNF therapy (TNF inhibitors, TNFi) and built on machine-learning algorithms aimed at the prediction of TNFi response, based on clinical and molecular profiles of RA patients.Methods: A total of 104 RA patients from two independent cohorts undergoing TNFi and 29 healthy donors (HD) were enrolled for the discovery and validation of prediction biomarkers. Serum samples were obtained at baseline and 6 months after treatment, and therapeutic efficacy was evaluated. Serum inflammatory profile, oxidative stress markers and NETosis-derived bioproducts were quantified and miRNomes were recognized by next-generation sequencing. Then, clinical and molecular changes induced by TNFi were delineated. Clinical and molecular signatures predictors of clinical response were assessed with supervised machine learning methods, using regularized logistic regressions.Results: Altered inflammatory, oxidative and NETosis-derived biomolecules were found in RA patients vs. HD, closely interconnected and associated with specific miRNA profiles. This altered molecular profile allowed the unsupervised division of three clusters of RA patients, showing distinctive clinical phenotypes, further linked to the TNFi effectiveness. Moreover, TNFi treatment reversed the molecular alterations in parallel to the clinical outcome. Machine-learning algorithms in the discovery cohort identified both, clinical and molecular signatures as potential predictors of response to TNFi treatment with high accuracy, which was further increased when both features were integrated in a mixed model (AUC: 0.91). These results were confirmed in the validation cohort.Conclusions: Our overall data suggest that: 1. RA patients undergoing anti-TNF-therapy conform distinctive clusters based on altered molecular profiles, which are directly linked to their clinical status at baseline. 2. Clinical effectiveness of anti-TNF therapy was divergent among these molecular clusters and associated with a specific modulation of the inflammatory response, the reestablishment of the altered oxidative status, the reduction of NETosis, and the reversion of related altered miRNAs. 3. The integrative analysis of the clinical and molecular profiles using machine learning allows the identification of novel signatures as potential predictors of therapeutic response to TNFi therapy.

Background Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood that often persists into adulthood and can result in significant long-term morbidity. As a long lasting chronic inflammatory disease, concern has been raised regarding the risk of premature development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in JIA. This study aims to determine whether adults with JIA in clinical remission display clinical and subclinical signs of CVD risk: inflammatory mediators, adipokines, endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress markers. Methods This is a cross-sectional study including 25 patients diagnosed with JIA according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology criteria (ILAR 2001) and 25 age- and sex-matched controls. Remission was determined by JADAS10 Results Mean duration of the disease was 13.47 ± 5.47 years. Mean age was 25.11 ± 7.21. Time in remission was 3.52 ± 3.33 years. Patients were in remission with no treatment (40%) and with treatments (60%). CVD risk factors and CIMT were similar in JIA patients and controls. However, cholesterol levels were significantly elevated in JIA patients. Levels of adipocytokines, oxidative stress and endothelial activation markers were elevated in serum and PBMCs from JIA patients. Serum of those JIA patients induced the activation of adipocytes, endothelial cells and healthy PBMCs. Conclusions JIA adult patients in remission have subclinical signs of inflammation and CVD risk, showed by an increase in the levels of inflammatory cytokines, endothelial activation and oxidative stress markers and adipokines, molecules closely involved in the alteration of the vascular system.

Funder: Europeo de Desarrollo Regional de la Unión Europea, Funder: Rheumatic Diseases Network, OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between complement component 3 (C3) and the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors and disease activity in the rheumatic diseases having the highest rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study including 200 RA, 80 PsA, 150 axSpA patients and 100 healthy donors. The prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors [obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A (apoB/apoA) and atherogenic risks and hypertension] was analyzed. Serum complement C3 levels, inflammatory markers and disease activity were evaluated. Cluster analysis was performed to identify different phenotypes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to assess the accuracy of complement C3 as biomarker of insulin resistance and disease activity was carried out. RESULTS: Levels of complement C3, significantly elevated in RA, axSpA and PsA patients, were associated with the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors. Hard clustering analysis identified two distinctive phenotypes of patients depending on the complement C3 levels and insulin sensitivity state. Patients from cluster 1, characterized by high levels of complement C3 displayed increased prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors and high disease activity. ROC curve analysis showed that non-obesity related complement C3 levels allowed to identify insulin resistant patients. CONCLUSIONS: Complement C3 is associated with the concomitant increased prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis. Thus, complement C3 should be considered a useful marker of insulin resistance and disease activity in these rheumatic disorders.

Background:The presence of cardiovascular disease in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is of particular concern, as it is considered the leading cause of mortality in PsA. Thus, it is essential to recognize those appropriate therapies that could target this comorbidity, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic alterations.Objectives:To evaluate the efficacy of methotrexate (MTX) and apremilast as monotherapies or in combination, in the clinical manifestations of the disease and the reduction of cardiovascular risk factors in PsA.Methods:Prospective longitudinal study in 30 PsA patients diagnosed according to CASPAR criteria: 10 patients were treated with MTX (12 ± 2,58 mg/week), 10 patients with apremilast (60 mg/day) and 10 were treated with combined therapy for 6 months, recruited in the routine clinical practice at the Reina Sofia Hospital of Cordoba and University Hospital of Jaen, Spain. Clinical and analytical parameters were collected at baseline and after 6 months of treatment: lipid profile (cholesterol, HDL, LDL, TG, ApoA and ApoB), glucose and insulin, body surface area (BSA) affected by psoriasis, number of tender and swollen joints, DAS28, DAPSA, VAS, CRP and ESR.The presence of cardiometabolic risk factors such as metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) was evaluated according to National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) adult treatment panel III (ATP III) criteria, meeting 3 of the following characteristics: abdominal obesity (men (>102 cm); women (>88 cm), TG > 150 mg/dL, HDL (men ( 130/85 mmHg, glucose levels > 110 mg/dL). Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR > 2,5), body mass index (BMI), ApoB/ApoA ratio, atherogenic index (AI) and SCORE (age, gender, cholesterol, HDL, smoking habit and diabetes) were also studied.Results:Apremilast or MTX monotherapies caused a moderate reduction of the clinical inflammatory markers (CRP and ESR) and disease activity (VAS, DAPSA and DAS28) after 6 months of treatment. On the other hand, while apremilast significantly reduced the affected BSA, MTX had no significant effect. All those parameters were more significantly reduced after the combined treatment (MTX+ apremilast).Apremilast monotherapy significantly improved alterations in the lipid profile (reducing cholesterol and LDL levels, ApoB/ApoA ratio and AI), insulin resistance and decreased BMI, thus reducing the number of patients with MetSyn. MTX monotherapy treatment had no positive effect on these parameters. None of the treatments had significant effects on SCORE values.The beneficial effects of apremilast on the lipid profile were mitigated after the combination with MTX. Nevertheless, the number of patients with MetSyn decreased even more after the combined therapy of MTX with apremilast compared to apremilast monotherapy.Conclusion:1) In patients with moderate disease activity, treatment with apremilast monotherapy might have some advantages compared to the MTX monotherapy, since it can decrease the percentage of BSA with psoriasis, the lipid profile alteration, IR and weight, thus improving the cardiovascular risk profile. 2) Combined therapy (MTX+ apremilast) can induce a deeper reduction in the disease activity compared to the monotherapies, maintaining, in turn, the positive effects of apremilast on the cardiovascular risk.Funded by ISCIII (PI17/01316 and RIER RD16/0012/0015) co-funded with FEDER.Disclosure of Interests:Nuria Barbarroja Puerto Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer., Speakers bureau: ROCHE and Celgene., Iván Arias de la Rosa: None declared, Carmen Torres-Granados: None declared, Maria del Carmen Abalos-Aguilera: None declared, Gómez García Ignacio: None declared, Isabel Añón Oñate: None declared, María José Pérez Galán: None declared, Desiree Ruiz: None declared, Alejandra M. Patiño-Trives: None declared, María Luque-Tévar: None declared, Eduardo Collantes Estevez Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer, Speakers bureau: ROCHE, Lilly, Bristol and Celgene, Chary Lopez-Pedrera Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer., Alejandro Escudero Contreras Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer, Speakers bureau: ROCHE, Lilly, Bristol and Celgene., María Dolores López Montilla Speakers bureau: Celgene

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by excess morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. In addition, metabolic alterations have been observed in these patients, which significantly contributes to the cardiovascular risk burden. Thus, the identification of therapies able to mitigate the cardiometabolic alterations in RA is essential. In addition, numerous studies suggest that cardiometabolic risks are mediated through adipocytokines. However, this relationship is not completely defined in RA. Objectives: 1) To evaluate the relationship among cardiometabolic risk factors and the levels of adipocytokines and autoantibodies in RA patients. 2) To analyze the effects anti-TNFα and anti-IL6 therapies on the cardiometabolic alterations. Methods: 1.- A cross-sectional study including 100 RA patients and 50 age-matched healthy donors was carried out. Different parameters related to the cardiometabolic risk were analyzed, including: lipid profile, atherogenic index, ratio ApoB/ApoA, insulin resistance (IR), obesity, hypertension, and the SCORE. Levels of adipocytokines (TNFα, IL6, IL1β, visfatin, adiponectin, leptin and resistin) were evaluated in serum. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) was evaluated as atherosclerosis marker. 2.-A prospective study in 15 RA patients before and after 3 months of anti-TNFα therapy and 15 RA patients before and after 3 months of treatment with tocilizumab (TCZ) was performed. All the parameters evaluated in the cross-sectional cohort were tested in this prospective study. Results: RA patients had elevated levels of leptin/adiponectin ratio, visfatin, resistin and inflammatory markers in serum. Our cohort of RA patients displayed increased rates of cardiometabolic risk factors, such as insulin resistance, hypertension, SCORE, pathologic CIMT, atherogenic index and ratio apoB/apoA. The alteration in the levels of adipocytokines were closely related to the autoimmunity, disease activity and clinical inflammatory markers. Of note, visfatin and C3 complement levels were determinant for IR, high levels of SCORE, increased parameters of CVD risk defined by apoB/apoA ratio and pathologic CIMT. Both biological therapies reduced clinical inflammatory markers and disease activity after 3 months of treatment. Anti-TNFα therapy modulated the cytoadipokine profile, reducing serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, resistin and visfatin, decreasing IR. After treatment with tocilizumab, serum levels of C3 complement, IL-1β and resistin were reduced. Conclusion: 1) Altered adipocytokine profile is closely related to the increased cardiometabolic risk factors associated with RA, where autoimmunity and systemic inflammation play a key role. 2) Anti-TNFα and anti-IL6R therapies, administered for 3 months, could have beneficial effects in the reduction of cardiometabolic risk factors in RA. Acknowledgement: Funded by ISCIII (PI18/00837, CP15/00158, PI17/01316 and RIER RD16/0012/0015) co-funded with FEDER Disclosure of Interests: None declared

Objectives 1) To compare the real-world effectiveness among RA patients starting 3 biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs). 2) To evaluate whether patients’ clinical characteristics influence the response to specific bDMARDs. 3) To analyze the impact of bDMARDs on inflammatory profiles. Methods Eighty RA patients initiating TNFi, 22 patients treated with TCZ and 28 treated with RTX, the last ones after switching from TNFi and given as second bDMARDs, were included in the study. Effectiveness was assessed before and after 3 and 6 months of treatment by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria. Adjusted differences were estimated with multivariable linear regression. Differences in treatment outcomes were calculated as a function of patients’ characteristics, through regression modelling. Extensive analysis of the inflammatory profile using a multiplex were also performed. Results A high proportion of patients starting TNFi showed early EULAR Good Response (65,8% responders at 3 months). After 6 months of therapy this percentage even increased (70,6%), so that tender joints’ counts, swollen joints count, SDAI and HAQ improved significantly. After switching from a first TNFi, RTX treatment promoted better early response (81,8% responders after 3 months) than TCZ (67% responders). Differences remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders. Yet, after 6 months, efficacy was similar among both non-TNFi DMARDs, even improving the effectiveness in TCZ-treated RA patients based on EULAR response rate (DAS28 change: 5.09±1.4 to 2.7±1,17) vs RTX-treated patients (DAS28 change: 4.8±1.3 to 3-1±1.3). Patients older, and those suffering arterial hypertension (AH) or hyperlipidemia showed less effectiveness for both, TNFi and non-TNFi DMARDs, most remarkable for RTX and after 6 months of treatment. Analysis of the inflammatory profile, by evaluating 27 key biomarkers of inflammation, showed, in patients’ responders to therapy, specific profiles depending on the biologic DMARD administered. Thus, after 6 months of RTX, a generalized reduction in the expression levels of 22/27 proteins evaluated was observed, while TCZ mainly inhibited proteins involved in cell maturation, proliferation and leukocytes recruitment (IL6, GCSF, IP-10, IFNγ, RANTES). On the other hand, TNFi mainly reduced molecules related to leukocytes’ recruitment (IL-2, IL-8, MIP1β, RANTES). Conclusion 1) Treatment outcomes among RA patients treated with non-TNFi bDMARDs in standard clinical practice, are in line with a superior early effectiveness of RTX compared with TCZ. However, effectiveness in TCZ-treated RA patients increases after 6 months of treatment vs RTX. 2) Patients characteristics influence the response to bDMARDs, suggesting the need of evaluating the benefit risk/ratio based on a personalized clinical evaluation. 3) Anti-inflammatory benefits associated with bDMARDs treatments can differ despite similar drug efficacy against RA, indicating that drug-specific mechanisms are involved in regulating these processes. Acknowledgement Funded by PI-0285-2017, ISCIII, PI15/00837 and RIER RD16/0012/0015, co-funded with FEDER Disclosure of Interests Chary Lopez-Pedrera: None declared, Nuria Barbarroja Puerto: None declared, Carlos Perez-Sanchez: None declared, Alejandro Ibanez-Costa: None declared, Maria Luque-Tevar: None declared, Alejandra Patino-Trives: None declared, Ivan Arias de la Rosa: None declared, Maria del Carmen Abalos-Aguilera: None declared, Rafaela Ortega Castro: None declared, Alejandro Escudero Contreras: None declared, Perez Sanchez Laura: None declared, Carlos Rodriguez-Escalera: None declared, Dolores Ruiz-Montesinos: None declared, Carmen Maria Romero-Barco: None declared, Natalia Mena-Vazquez: None declared, Julia Uceda Speakers bureau: abbie, pfizer, novartis, janmsen, Ma Dolores Toledo-Coello: None declared, M angeles Aguirre-Zamorano: None declared, Eduardo Collantes Estevez: None declared

Background:Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) displays increased traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, such as insulin resistance (IR), metabolic syndrome or obesity. Thus, it is an urgent need to treat and manage these cardiometabolic comorbidities associated. Some evidence points out that methotrexate could improve CV risk due to its anti-inflammatory properties, however the effect of PDE4 inhibitor treatment on CV risk have not been elucidated yet.Objectives:1) To evaluate the effect of conventional therapy and PDE4 inhibitor in PsA patients with high prevalence of cardiometabolic comorbidities. 2) To identify a molecular patient profile susceptible of being benefit from each therapy regarding disease activity and CV risk.Methods:Thirty biological-naïve patients with PsA were treated with the PDE4 inhibitor (Apremilast), Methotrexate or combined therapy (Apremilast and Methotrexate) following the clinical routine practice for 6 months. A cohort of 30 age and sex-matched healthy donors (HDs) was included. Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from peripheral blood of patients and HDs. Different parameters related to the cardiometabolic risk were analyzed, including: atherogenic index, ratio apolipoprotein B (apo B)/apolipoprotein A (apo A), insulin resistance (IR), metabolic syndrome, obesity, arterial hypertension, and the SCORE. Clinical and analytical parameters were collected: lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, apo A and apo B), glucose and insulin, body surface area (BSA) affected by psoriasis, number of tender and swollen joints, DAPSA, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. A panel of 92 proteins involved in cardiovascular disease (cardiovascular panel II, Olink) and an adipocytokine profile was measured in plasma and PBMCs. Hard cluster analysis was carried out in order to identify two distinctive molecular phenotypes depending on the treatment response related to the reduction of CV risk.Results:Among the 92 CV-related proteins, the higher levels of two molecules, CD163 and FABP4 observed in PsA patients compared to HDs, were strongly associated with elevated rates of CV risk factors such as apolipoprotein B/A and atherogenic risks, metabolic syndrome, obesity, IR, arterial hypertension and smoking. Thus, we could identify two clinical profiles of patients according to the plasma levels of these molecules: cluster 1 defined by 20 patients with low levels of CD163 and FABP4 and low prevalence of CV comorbidities and cluster 2 defined by 10 patients with high levels of CD163 and FABP4 and high prevalence of CVD comorbidities. Regarding cluster 2, those patients that were treated with Apremilast or combined therapy had a significant reduction of CD163 and FABP4 associated with a drop in total cholesterol, apo B, IR state and body mass index. In addition, both PDE4 inhibitor and combined treatment reduced activity disease. However, Methotrexate in monotherapy did not show a beneficial effect in PsA patients displaying higher levels of CD163, FABP4, total cholesterol and no changes in disease activity after treatment. In regard to cluster 1, the three therapy strategies reduced disease activity after 6 months. Even with low rates of comorbidities, those patients treated with Apremilast had reduced levels of total cholesterol and apolipoprotein B and body mass index after 6 months of therapy. However, no changes were observed in the treatment with Methotrexate or Methotrexate combined with Apremilast.Conclusion:1- CD163 and FABP4 could be considered as potential biomarkers of treatment efficacy regarding cardiometabolic comorbidities. 2- Apremilast might target metabolic alterations in PsA modulating lipid profile, insulin resistance and body mass index, decreasing the levels of surrogate CV-related molecules. 3- Apremilast treatment should be considered in PsA patients with higher rates of cardiometabolic comorbidities.Funded by ISCIII (PI17/01316 and RIER RD16/0012/0015) co-funded with FEDER.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.

Background:Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) events. Traditional CV risk factors do not account for the increased CV disease mortality in PsA. Inflammation seems to have a key role in the development of this comorbidity, however the specific molecular mechanisms involved are not defined yet.Objectives:To evaluate clinical CV risk factors and surrogate markers and their relationship with inflammation, disease activity and metabolic comorbidities in PsA patientsMethods:This is a cross-sectional study including 100 PsA patients without CV disease recruited in the routine clinical practice at the Rheumatology Department, Reina Sofia Hospital of Cordoba and 100 age-matched healthy donors (HDs). Different parameters related to the cardiometabolic risk were analyzed. Clinical and analytical parameters were collected: lipid profile (cholesterol, HDL, LDL, TG, ApoA and ApoB), glucose and insulin, body surface area (BSA) affected by psoriasis, number of tender and swollen joints, DAPSA, VAS, CRP and ESR. To measure the persistence of inflammation, CRP levels were recorded retrospectively once, twice, or three times during the 5 years prior to study and at the moment of the study. Increased levels of CRP in at least 50% of the determinations was considered as persistent inflammation. Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from peripheral blood of patients and HDs. A panel of 92 proteins involved in CV disease and an adipocytokine profile was measured in plasma and PBMCs. In addition, activation of 18 intracellular pathways involved in cell activation was also measured in PBMCs. In vitro experiments in adipocytes treated with serum from PsA patients were also carried out.Results:Traditional CV risk factors including atherogenic risk, insulin resistance (IR), metabolic syndrome, smoking, obesity, arterial hypertension, apolipoprotein B/A risk, type 2 diabetes mellitus and the levels of SCORE were significantly increased in PsA patients. The presence of IR was associated with disease activity markers (DAPSA, ESR and CRP). In fact, the HOMA-IR index was related to the CRP persistence. PsA patients with obesity had significantly increased the number of tender and swollen joints, the levels of DAPSA and CRP. Twenty-eight proteins involved in CV disease and six adipocytokines were significantly elevated in the plasma of PsA patients. Several of these cardiovascular molecules were associated with higher levels of DAPSA (CTSD, GAL3, CD163, FABP4, IL6 and IL1RT2), acute phase reactants (GAL3, TNFα, Adiponectin, TNFR1 and IL6), affected body surface area (IL2RA, GAL3, CCL15, TRAP, CSTB, CD163, OPG and CNTN1) and onychopaty (TRAP, VWF, MCP-1, GAL3, LTBR, TFPI, CHI3L1, CTSZ and JAM-A). In addition, the mRNA expression of most of those 28 CV molecules were significantly increased in PBMCs from PsA patients. At intracellular level, the activation of 11 kinases (ERK1/2, AKT, S6 Ribosomal, mTOR, HSP27, Bad, p70 S6 kinase, PRAS40, p53 and caspase-3) involved in insulin signaling, inflammation, cell survival and apoptosis were altered in PBMCs. Finally, serum from PsA patients was able to modify the expression of these molecules in adipocytes.Conclusion:1) Disease activity and inflammatory burden are closely associated with the presence of metabolic alterations, specifically obesity and IR in patients with PsA. 2) The development of IR is extremely related to the persistence of CRP levels in the previous 5 years. 3) Inflammation is closely associated to the adipose tissue dysfunction in PsA and 4) FABP4, CD163 and GAL3 are surrogate CV markers commonly associated with clinical features of PsA, suggesting the role of these molecules linking CVD and PsA pathogenesis.Funded by ISCIII (PI17/01316 and RIER RD16/0012/0015) co-funded with FEDER.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.

Background:Objectives:1. This study, developed within the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking project PRECISESADS framework, aimed to identify specific molecular profiles involved in the enhanced CV-risk present in SLE patients and to analyze the relevance of the sustained positivity for anti-dsDNA on the establishment of their atherothrombotic status.Methods:One hundred and twenty-four SLE consecutive patients (not including patients with associated antiphospholipid syndrome), belonging to the PRECISESADS project, were evaluated for the presence of CVD and its association with positivity for anti-dsDNA antibodies. A second cohort of 62 SLE patients was included, of which endothelial dysfunction, lipid profile, the presence of atheroma plaques (identified by a pathologic increase in the carotid intimae media thickness -CIMT-), and the frequencies of anti-dsDNA positivity for 7 years, were evaluated. Serum inflammatory and oxidative stress biomolecules, and NETosis-derived bioproducts were further evaluated by multiplex assay and specific commercial kits, respectively. Besides, miRNnomes were identified using next-generation sequencing. Clinical significance of the biomolecules analyzed was explored by correlation/association studies with immunological and CV-risk features.Results:A significant relationship among the incidence of CVD (i.e. thrombosis or cardiac involvement) and the positivity for anti-dsDNA antibodies was recognized in the first SLE cohort. Accordingly, in the second SLE cohort, significantly impaired micro-vascular endothelial function (identified by reduction of hyperemia post-occlusion area), increased atherogenic index and pathologic increase in the CIMT were assessed in patients positive for anti-dsDNA in relation to anti-dsDNA negative patients. Around a 65% of SLE patients displayed a sustained positivity for anti-dsDNA antibodies for more than 7 years. These patients showed a distinctive and specific molecular profile compared with patients that had remained negative for anti-dsDNA, including increased inflammatory profile (IL1B, IL2, IL6, IL17, EOTAXIN, FGF, GMCSF, IFNγ, IP10, RANTES, TNF), enhanced oxidative status (lipoperoxides), and higher NETosis (nucleosomes, elastase). Levels of those biomolecules were closely interconnected and associated to their regulatory miRNAs, which accordingly exhibited differential expression in SLE anti-dsDNA(+)vsanti-dsDNA(-) patients. Finally, the frequency for positivity of anti-dsDNA significantly correlated both with markers of endothelial dysfunction and with the presence of atheroma plaques in SLE patients, pointing at the direct involvement of anti-dsDNA-Abs in the development of these processes.Conclusion:1. Positivity for anti-dsDNA antibodies confers a specific molecular profile linked to an enhanced CV-risk in SLE patients. 2. Moreover, the sustained positivity for anti-dsDNA antibodies fosters the establishment of an atherothrombotic status in these autoimmune patients.Acknowledgments:Supported by the EU/EFPIA –IMI-JU PRECISESADS (n° 115565) and ISCIII (PI18/0837 and RIER RD16/0012/0015), Co-funded with FEDER.Disclosure of Interests:Alejandra M. Patiño-Trives: None declared, Maria A Aguirre: None declared, Carlos Pérez Sánchez: None declared, Pérez Sánchez Laura: None declared, María Luque-Tévar: None declared, Iván Arias de la Rosa: None declared, Rafaela Ortega Castro: None declared, Maria del Carmen Abalos-Aguilera: None declared, Mario Espinosa: None declared, Pedro Seguí Azpilcueta: None declared, Jacques-Olivier Pers: None declared, Nuria Barbarroja Puerto Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer., Speakers bureau: ROCHE and Celgene., Marta Alarcon-Riquelme: None declared, Eduardo Collantes Estevez Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer, Speakers bureau: ROCHE, Lilly, Bristol and Celgene, Chary Lopez-Pedrera Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer.

Background:Objectives:1. This study, developed within the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking project PRECISESADS framework, aimed at identify specific inflammatory and oxidative stress determinants involved in the enhanced CV-risk present in SLE patients and to analyze the relevance of the sustained positivity for anti-dsDNA on the establishment of their atherothrombotic status.Methods:One hundred and twenty-four SLE consecutive patients (not including patients with associated antiphospholipid syndrome), belonging to the PRECISESADS project, were evaluated for the presence of CVD and its association with positivity for anti-dsDNA antibodies. A second cohort of 62 SLE patients was included, of which endothelial dysfunction, lipid profile, the presence of atheroma plaques (identified by a pathologic increase in the carotid intimae media thickness -CIMT-), and the frequencies of anti-dsDNA positivity for 7 years, were evaluated. Serum inflammatory and oxidative stress biomolecules, and NETosis-derived bioproducts were further evaluated by multiplex assay and specific commercial kits, respectively. Besides, miRNnomes were identified using next-generation sequencing. Clinical significance of the biomolecules analyzed was explored by correlation/association studies with immunological and CV-risk features.Results:A significant relationship among the incidence of CVD (i.e. thrombosis or cardiac involvement) and the positivity for anti-dsDNA antibodies was recognized in the first SLE cohort. Accordingly, in the second SLE cohort, significantly impaired micro-vascular endothelial function (identified by reduction of hyperemia post-occlusion area), increased atherogenic index and pathologic increase in the CIMT were assessed in patients positive for anti-dsDNA in relation to anti-dsDNA negative patients. Around a 65% of SLE patients displayed a sustained positivity for anti-dsDNA antibodies for more than 7 years. These patients showed a distinctive and specific molecular profile compared with patients that had remained negative for anti-dsDNA, including increased inflammatory profile (IL1B, IL2, IL6, IL17, EOTAXIN, FGF, GMCSF, IFNγ, IP10, RANTES, TNF), enhanced oxidative status (lipoperoxides), and higher NETosis (nucleosomes, elastase). Levels of those biomolecules were closely interconnected and associated to their regulatory miRNAs, which accordingly exhibited differential expression in SLE anti-dsDNA(+)vsanti-dsDNA(-) patients. Finally, the frequency for positivity of anti-dsDNA significantly correlated both with markers of endothelial dysfunction and with the presence of atheroma plaques in SLE patients, pointing at the direct involvement of anti-dsDNA-Abs in the development of these processes.Conclusion:1. Positivity for anti-dsDNA antibodies confers a specific inflammatory/oxidative profile linked to an enhanced CV-risk in SLE patients. 2. Moreover, the sustained positivity for anti-dsDNA antibodies fosters the establishment of an atherothrombotic status in these autoimmune patients.Acknowledgments:Supported by the EU/EFPIA –IMI-JU PRECISESADS (n° 115565) and ISCIII (PI18/0837 and RIER RD16/0012/0015), Co-funded with FEDER.Disclosure of Interests:Inmaculada Concepcion Aranda-Valera: None declared, Alejandra M. Patiño-Trives: None declared, Roldán Molina Rosa: None declared, Maria A Aguirre: None declared, Pérez Sánchez Laura: None declared, Carlos Pérez Sánchez: None declared, María Luque-Tévar: None declared, Iván Arias de la Rosa: None declared, Maria del Carmen Abalos-Aguilera: None declared, Desiree Ruíz-Vilchez: None declared, Mario Espinosa: None declared, Nuria Barbarroja Puerto Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer., Speakers bureau: ROCHE and Celgene., Eduardo Collantes-Estévez Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer., Speakers bureau: ROCHE, Lilly, Bristol and Celgene., Chary Lopez-Pedrera Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer.

Background:Cardiovascular risk factors are increased in Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). In fact, around 60% out of PsA patients display insulin resistance (IR), a hallmark of metabolic syndrome, which might significantly contribute to the cardiovascular disease. Latest studies suggested that inflammatory and metabolic disorders may be under epigenetic control, including DNA methylation. DNA methylation is an unexplored area in the field of PsA.Objectives:To study the alterations in the genome-wide DNA methylation profile of CD4+T cells from PsA patients and its relationship with its pathology and the risk of cardiovascular comorbidity.Methods:Twenty healthy controls (HC) and 20 PsA patients were included in the study. PsA patients were classified into insulin resistant and non-insulin resistant according to HOMA-IR index. CD4+T lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral blood by positive immunomagnetic selection. The Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC Beadchip was used to obtain DNA methylation profiles across approximately 850,000 CpGs (TSS1500, TSS200, 5UTR, 3UTR, first exon, gene body). Beta values (β) estimating methylation levels were obtained at each CpG site, and differentially methylated genes (DMG) between PsA and HC were identified. Functional classification of these genes was carried out through gene ontology analysis (PANTHER database). Gene expression analysis of the selected genes was also evaluated by RT-PCR. Vascular parameters including carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and endothelial function was analyzed by ecodoppler and periflux respectively.Results:The genome-wide methylation analysis identified 112 DMGs including 41 hypomethylated and 71 hypermethylated. These differentially methylated genes were enriched with several signaling pathways and disease categories including immune response, metabolic processes, oxidative stress, vascular and inflammatory pathways. The altered gene expression of selected genes with altered methylation levels in PsA was also validated. Correlation and association analysis of these DMGs with clinical and analytical variables, cardiovascular risk factors and endothelial microvascular function revealed that the degree of methylation of these genes was significantly associated with cIMT (IGF1R, NDRG3, SMYD3, HLA-DRB1, WDR70), arterial pressure (METT5D1, NRDG3, ADAM17, SMYD3, WNK1, CBX1), insulin resistance (AKAP13, SEMA6D, PLCB1), altered lipid profile and atherogenic index (MYBL1, METT5D1, MAN2A1, SLC1A7, SEMA6D, PLCB1, TLK1, SDK1, CBX1), inflammation (MYBL1, NDUFA5, METT5D1, SEMA6D, PLCB1, TLK1), and endothelial dysfunction (ADAMST10, GPCPD1, CCDC88A). In addition, this analysis also identified 435 DMGs including 280 hypomethylated and 155 hypermethylated in CD4+T cells from IR-PsA vs non IR-PsA patients. Between these two groups of PsA patients, CHUK, SERINC1, RUNX1, TTYH2, TXNDC11, FAF1, BICD1, SCD5, PDE5A, FAS, NFIA and GRP75 displayed the most significantly altered methylation, suggesting the role of these genes in the metabolic complications associated with PsA.Conclusion:These findings help our understanding of the pathogenesis of PsA and advance epigenetic studies in regards to this disease and the cardiometabolic comorbidities associated. Funded by ISCIII (PI17/01316 and RIER RD16/0012/0015) co-funded with FEDER.Disclosure of Interests:Iván Arias de la Rosa: None declared, María Dolores López Montilla Speakers bureau: Celgene, Javier Rodríguez: None declared, Esteban Ballester: None declared, Carmen Torres-Granados: None declared, Carlos Perez-Sanchez: None declared, Maria del Carmen Abalos-Aguilera: None declared, Gómez García Ignacio: None declared, Desiree Ruiz: None declared, Alejandra M. Patiño-Trives: None declared, María Luque-Tévar: None declared, Eduardo Collantes-Estévez Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer., Speakers bureau: ROCHE, Lilly, Bristol and Celgene., Chary Lopez-Pedrera Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer., Alejandro Escudero Contreras Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer, Speakers bureau: ROCHE, Lilly, Bristol and Celgene., Nuria Barbarroja Puerto Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer., Speakers bureau: ROCHE and Celgene.

Objectives:To evaluate the changes promoted in levels of circulating inflammatory mediators in RA patients in response to TNF-α inhibitors (TNFi) and anti-CD20 therapies, in order to identify biomarkers of clinical efficacy and potential predictors of therapeutic response to these drugs.Methods:In a prospective RA cohort multicenter study, we collected serum from RA patients with moderate or high disease activity prior and after 6 months of treatment with TNFi or rituximab (RTX), and analyzed levels of 27 proteins that constitute a multi-biomarker test of the inflammatory profile of these samples, using a multiplex immunoassay. Patients’ response was determined according to the EULAR response criteria (good/moderate/no). We compared basal levels of inflammatory molecules between the differential response patient groups and analyzed their discriminative ability. Logistic prediction models were created to assess the added value of potential inflammatory predictors.Results:Among 111 total RA patients, 50 of 85 (59%) patients in the TNFi group and 18 of 26 patients in the RTX group (69%) responded to the biologic treatment. High DAS28 or SDAI scores, or titers of auto-antibodies (RF or ACPA) at baseline were not predictive of response to any treatment. Instead, smoking habit and hyperlipidemia at baseline were predictors of a worse response to any of these bDMARDs.Of the molecules analyzed by the multiplex assay, 14 inflammatory mediators showed a significant downregulation on patients’ responders to TNFi therapy. Moreover, the decline on 7 biomolecules was related to reduced DAS28. After RTX treatment, 15 inflammatory mediators were reduced in patients with good clinical response; downregulation in 4 of those biomolecules correlated with reduced DAS28.In the search for predictors of response to each bDMARD, by using the MetaboAnalyst software, we could classify patients with distinctive therapeutic response based on the baseline levels of the inflammatory molecules analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses for those multiple biomarkers allowed us to further identify specific signatures of inflammatory biomolecules that may serve as predictors of response to each bDMARD therapy with high sensitivity and specificity. Thus, a signature of five molecules was identified as potential predictor of TNFi response [Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Eotaxin, RANTES, IL7 and IL-17]. Indeed, a signature including three highly expressed cytokines/chemokines in RA serum were identified as predictors of RTX response [interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP10), Eotaxin and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1)].Conclusion:The extensive analysis of serum inflammatory profile allowed to identify specific and distinctive signatures of biomolecules that, in coordination with known clinical and serological profiles, might predict the response of RA patients to TNFi or RTX treatments.Acknowledgments :Funded by Junta de Andalucía (PI-0285-2017), ISCIII, (PI18/00837 and RIER RD16/0012/0015) co-funded with FEDERDisclosure of Interests:María Luque-Tévar: None declared, Carlos Perez-Sanchez: None declared, Font Ugalde Pilar: None declared, Montserrat Romero-Gómez: None declared, Alejandra M. Patiño-Trives: None declared, Desiree Ruiz: None declared, Iván Arias de la Rosa: None declared, Maria del Carmen Abalos-Aguilera: None declared, Rafaela Ortega Castro: None declared, Alejandro Escudero Contreras: None declared, Carlos Rodríguez-Escalera Speakers bureau: Lilly, GSK, Novartis and Sanofi, José Javier Pérez Venegas: None declared, María Dolores Ruiz Montesinos: None declared, Carmen Dominguez: None declared, Carmen Romero Barco: None declared, Antonio Fernandez-Nebro: None declared, Natalia Mena-Vázquez: None declared, Jose Luis Marenco Speakers bureau: ABbvie, Pfzer, lilly, Julia Uceda: None declared, Mª Dolores Toledo-Coello: None declared, Nuria Barbarroja Puerto Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer., Speakers bureau: ROCHE and Celgene., Maria A Aguirre: None declared, Chary Lopez-Pedrera Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer., Eduardo Collantes-Estévez Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer., Speakers bureau: ROCHE, Lilly, Bristol and Celgene.