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Osteopontin (OPN) is a phosphoglycoprotein involved in bone remodelling, wound healing, cell adhesion, tissue remodelling, and immune response that is distributed widely in normal adult tissues. OPN biological activity is regulated by thrombin and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) cleavage, where the full-length (OPN-FL) protein and the cleaved OPN-N are associated with autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). OPN overexpression has been associated with a predisposition to SLE and bad prognosis since OPN could mediate a sustained polyclonal B cell activation that besides to intracellular OPN (iOPN) form, promote the T follicular helper (TFH) cells and enhance anti-nuclear antibody production. Currently, the role of OPN in lupus nephritis (LN) has been reported and extensively studied; however, no data are available about the potential mechanism of OPN in neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE). In this review, we highlighted the contribution of OPN and iOPN in LN and NPSLE immunopathology.

Introduction Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies such as anti-Sm. Studies in patients with SLE and murine models of lupus reveal that the most critical anti-Sm autoantibodies are predominantly direct against D1(83–119), D2, and B´/B epitopes. Objectives The present study aimed to analyze the induction of antigen-specific tolerance after prophylactic immunization with a DNA vaccine encoding the epitopes: D183-119, D2, B´/B, and B´/BCOOH in co-vaccination with IFN-γ or IL-10 in a murine model of lupus induced by pristane. Material and methods To obtain endotoxin-free DNA vaccines, direct cloning techniques using pcDNA were performed: D183-119, D2, B´/B, B´/BCOOH, IFN-γ, or IL-10. Lupus was induced by 0.5 mL of pristane via intraperitoneal in BALB/c female mice. Immunoprecipitation with K562 cells was metabolically labeled with 35S and ELISA to detect serum antibodies or mice IgG1, IgG2a isotypes. ELISA determined IL-10 and IFN-γ from splenocytes supernatants. Proteinuria was assessed monthly, and lupus nephritis was evaluated by immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy. Results The prophylactic co-vaccination with D2/IL-10 reduced the expression of kidney damage observed by electron microscopy, direct immunofluorescence, and H & E, along with reduced level of anti-nRNP/Sm antibodies (P = 0.048). Conclusion The prophylactic co-vaccination of IL-10 with D2 in pristane-induced lupus ameliorates the renal damage maybe by acting as prophylactic DNA tolerizing therapy.

The presence of myositis-specific antibodies (MSA), was recently reported in healthy individuals, cancer patients without myopathy and paraneoplastic rheumatic syndromes. We sought to analyze the frequency of MSA, myositis-associated antibodies (MAA) and autoantibodies related to systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD) in breast cancer patients. One hundred fifty-two breast cancer patients were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Clinical information was collected, and autoantibodies tested by immunoprecipitation of an 35S-methionine-labeled K562 cell extract, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot when indicated. All statistical tests were performed using the software statistical package for the social science (SPSS) ver. 19.0 (IBM Inc., NYSE, USA). Autoantibodies associated with SARD: anti-52 kD ribonucleoprotein/tripartite motif-containing 21 (anti-Ro52/TRIM21) was found in 5.9% (9/152), anti-Sjögren syndrome-related antigen A/60 kD ribonucleoprotein antibody (anti-SSA/Ro60) in 3.9% (6/152) and anti-Su antigen/Argonaute 2 antibody (anti-Su/Ago2) in 2.6% (4/152). Meanwhile, anti-transcription intermediary factor-1γ (anti-TIF-1γ, p155/140) antibody was positive in 2 cases and anti-polymyositis/scleroderma antibody was detected in one case. As a whole, 14.47% (22/152) of breast cancer patients showed autoantibodies associated with SARD. These specific autoantibodies were not associated with the presence of rheumatic diseases except one rheumatoid arthritis patient positive for anti-Ro52/TRIM21. Autoantibodies to TIF-1γ were found in two patients with breast cancer without dermatomyositis (DM). More common specificities were autoantibodies anti-SSA/Ro60, anti-Ro52/TRIM21 and anti-Su/Ago2. More studies are needed in order to establish the biological meaning of the presence of SARD-associated autoantibodies in breast cancer.

Background: type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin resistance (IR), and abnormal fatty acid metabolism in which the CD36 receptor has been implicated in glucose and lipid dysregulation. Objective: to evaluate the contribution of polymorphism CD36 rs3211938 to metabolic profile in T2DM Mexican mestizos from western Mexico. Methods: we included 115 individuals classified as non-T2DM (NT2DM) adults and T2DM patients. Polymorphism CD36 rs3211938 was assessed by PCR-RFLP. Anthropometric and metabolic markers were measured by routine methods, and insulin and oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) were measured by ELISA. Results: the distribution of genotypes between NT2DM and T2DM patients was different (p0.001), as was the allele frequency (p = 0.002). NT2DM TG carriers showed the lowest levels of basal insulin and HOMA-IR index in comparison with TT carriers (p0.05 and p0.05, respectively). In the T2DM group TG carriers showed high BMI, WHR, and weight values (p = 0.001; p ≤ 0.05 and p0.05, respectively), and the highest levels of basal glucose, HDL-cholesterol, ox-LDL, and HOMA-IR (p0.001; p0.001; p0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively) in comparison with diabetic TT carriers. Conclusion: the CD36 rs3211938 TG genotype is associated with high levels of glucose, ox-LDL, HDL-cholesterol, and IR, and with increased BMI in Mexican mestizo T2DM patients from western Mexico.Antecedentes: la diabetes mellitus de tipo 2 (DMT2) es un trastorno metabólico crónico caracterizado por hiperglucemia, resistencia a la insulina (RI) y metabolismo anormal de ácidos grasos en el que se ha implicado el receptor CD36 en la disregulación de la glucosa y los lípidos. Objetivo: evaluar la contribución del polimorfismo CD36 rs3211938 al perfil metabólico en individuos mestizos mexicanos con DMT2 del occidente de México. Métodos: se incluyeron 115 individuos clasificados en adultos sin DMT2 (NDMT2) y pacientes con DMT2. El polimorfismo CD36 rs3211938 se identificó mediante PCR-RFLP. Las mediciones antropométricas y metabólicas se realizaron mediante métodos de rutina y la insulina y las LDL-oxidadas (LDL-ox) se midieron por ELISA. Resultados: las distribuciones de los genotipos entre los pacientes NDMT2 y DMT2 fueron diferentes (p0,001), así como la frecuencia alélica (p = 0,002). Los individuos NDMT2 portadores del genotipo TG mostraron niveles más bajos de insulina basal e índice HOMA-IR en comparación con los portadores del genotipo TT (p0,05 y p0,05, respectivamente). En el grupo DMT2, los portadores del genotipo TG presentaron valores elevados de índice de masa corporal (IMC), índice cintura-cadera (ICC) y peso (p = 0,001; p0,05 y p0,05, respectivamente) y niveles más altos de glucosa basal, HDL-colesterol, LDL-ox y HOMA-IR (p0,001; p0,001; p0,001 y p = 0,001, respectivamente) en comparación con los portadores del genotipo TT. Conclusión: el genotipo TG del polimorfismo CD36 rs3211938 se asocia a altos niveles de glucosa, ox-LDL, HDL-colesterol y RI, y a aumentos del IMC en los pacientes mestizos mexicanos con DMT2 del occidente de México.

Osteoporosis (OP) is highly prevalent in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is influenced by genetic factors. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2073618 in the TNFRSF11B osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene has been related to postmenopausal OP although, to date, no information has been described concerning whether this polymorphism is implied in abnormalities of bone mineral density (BMD) in RA. We evaluated, in a case-control study performed in Mexican-Mestizo women with RA, whether SNP rs2073618 in the TNFRSF11B gene is associated with a decrease in BMD. RA patients were classified as follows: (1) low BMD and (2) normal BMD. All patients were genotyped for the rs2073618 polymorphism by PCR-RFLP. The frequency of low BMD was 74.4%. Higher age was observed in RA with low BMD versus normal BMD (62 and 54 years, resp.; p<0.001). Worse functioning and lower BMI were observed in RA with low BMD (p=0.003 and p=0.002, resp.). We found similar genotype frequencies in RA with low BMD versus RA with normal BMD (GG genotype 71% versus 64.4%, GC 26% versus 33%, and CC 3% versus 2.2%, resp.; p=0.6). We concluded that in Mexican-Mestizo female patients with RA, the rs2073618 polymorphism of the TNRFS11B gene is not associated with low BMD.

Background. Obesity study in the context of scavenger receptors has been linked to atherosclerosis. CD36 and LOX-1 are important, since they have been associated with atherogenic and metabolic disease but not fat redistribution. The aim of our study was to determinate the association between CD36 and LOX-1 in presence of age and abdominal obesity.Methods. This is a cross-sectional study that included 151 healthy individuals, clinically and anthropometrically classified into two groups by age (Results. Individuals ≥30 years old with abdominal obesity presented high atherogenic index, lower soluble scavenger receptor levels, and subexpression ofCD36mRNA (54% less). On the other hand, individuals Conclusion. In this study, individuals over 30 years of age presented low soluble scavenger receptors levels pattern andCD36gene subexpression, which suggest the chronic metabolic dysregulation in abdominal obesity.

Background Leptin is an adipose-derived hormone with a role in depression related to chronic stress, anxiety and pain disorders, disturbs with a high prevalence in RA patients. In previous studies, it has been demonstrated the role of leptin in the pathogenesis of RA, in particular, its association with anti-CCP. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychiatric disorders risk related to serum soluble leptin (sLep) levels with clinical activity in RA patients. Objectives To evaluate the association between psychiatric disorders and serum leptin (sLep) levels and RA disease activity Methods 76 outpatients diagnosed with RA (ACR1987/ ACR/ EULAR2010) were evaluated with clinical, laboratory and image assessment. Disease activity was measured using DAS28 CRP, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus (M. I. N. I. Plus) was used for the psychiatric evaluation. sLep levels were measured by ELISA method. Results sLep levels were significantly higher in RA patients M.I.N.I. plus (+) ( P P= 0.006) with an odds ratio of 1.6 ([1.04–2.46] P= 0.03) for present psychiatric comorbidity. After adjustment with age and years of RA diagnosis, the odds ratio increased to 1.72 ([1.08–2.73] P= 0.02). Also, DAS28 CRP had a moderate correlation with the number of psychiatric diagnosis present, past and for lifetime (r=0.485, P Conclusions sLep levels and DAS28-CRP were associated with symptoms of depression, such as anxiety and pain disorder in RA patients. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Several interleukin 6 gene (IL6) polymorphisms are implicated in susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It has not yet been established with certainty if these polymorphisms are associated with the severe radiographic damage observed in some RA patients, particularly those with the development of joint bone ankylosis (JBA). The objective of the present study was to evaluate the association between severe radiographic damage in hands and the -174G/C and -572G/C IL6 polymorphisms in Mexican Mestizo people with RA. Mestizo adults with RA and long disease duration (>5 years) were classified into two groups according to the radiographic damage in their hands: a) severe radiographic damage (JBA and/or joint bone subluxations) and b) mild or moderate radiographic damage. We compared the differences in genotype and allele frequencies of -174G/C and -572G/C IL6 polymorphisms (genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) between these two groups. Our findings indicated that the -174G/C polymorphism of IL6 is associated with severe joint radiographic damage [maximum likelihood odds ratios (MLE_OR): 8.03; 95%CI 1.22-187.06; P = 0.03], whereas the -572G/C polymorphism of IL6 exhibited no such association (MLE_OR: 1.5; 95%CI 0.52-4.5; P = 0.44). Higher anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody levels were associated with more severe joint radiographic damage (P = 0.04). We conclude that there is a relevant association between the -174G/C IL6 polymorphism and severe radiographic damage. Future studies in other populations are required to confirm our findings.

Genetic susceptibility has been described in insulin resistance (IR). Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand-2 (CCL2) is overexpressed in white adipose tissue and is the ligand of C-C motif receptor-2 (CCR2). TheCCL2G-2518A polymorphism is known to regulate gene expression, whereas the physiological effects of theCCR2Val64Ile polymorphism are unknown. The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between these polymorphisms with soluble CCL2 levels (sCCL2), metabolic markers, and adiposity. In a cross-sectional study we included 380 Mexican-Mestizo individuals, classified with IR according to Stern criteria. Polymorphism was identified using PCR-RFLP/sequence-specific primers. Anthropometrics and metabolic markers were measured by routine methods and adipokines and sCCL2 by ELISA. The CCL2 polymorphism was associated with IR (polymorphicA+phenotype frequencies were 70.9%, 82.6%, in individuals with and without IR, resp.). Phenotype carriers CCL2 (A+) displayed lower body mass and fat indexes, insulin and HOMA-IR, and higher adiponectin levels. Individuals with IR presented higher sCCL2 compared to individuals without IR and was associated with CCR2 (Ile+) phenotype. The double-polymorphic phenotype carriers (A+/Ile+) exhibited higher sCCL2 than double-wild-type phenotype carriers (A−/Ile−). The present findings suggest that sCCL2 production possibly will be associated with the adiposity and polymorphic phenotypes ofCCL2andCCR2, in Mexican-Mestizos with IR.

The ACTN3 gene encodes the fast muscle protein α-actinin-3. The ACTN3 R577X polymorphism is a premature stop codon and results in absence of α-actinin-3 in 577XX homozygotes. The aim of this study was to determine the ACTN3 genotype in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs).We performed ACTN3 genotyping on 27 patients with dermatomyositis (DM), 10 with polymyositis (PM), and 85 healthy subjects. Muscle enzyme levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were recorded at the time of diagnosis and recruitment. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and the allele frequency was analysed.A total of 36% of healthy subjects had the ACTN3 577XX polymorphism (α-actinin-3 deficiency), 18% had the 577RR (homozygous wild type) genotype, and 46% 577RX (heterozygous). In DM/PM, 70% had the ACTN3 577XX polymorphism, 6% RR, and 24% RX [odds ratio (OR) 4.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.67-10.33, p0.001]. In healthy subjects, the R allele was present in 41% and the X allele in 59% compared to 18% and 82%, respectively, in the IIM group (OR 3.21, 95% CI 1.57-6.66, p0.001). Thus, the ACTN3 577X allele seemed to increase the risk of developing IIM, and DM in particular, although this was not related to severity of expression of the phenotype.The ACTN3 577X allele appeared to increase the risk of developing IIM; 70% of IIM patients were deficient in α-actinin-3. By contrast, ACTN3 577XX patients seemed to have less severe disease as reflected in lower muscle enzyme levels.

Background Epilepsy is a neurological disorder produced by an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, in which transporters of both glutamate and GABA have been implicated. Hence, at different times after local administration of the convulsive drug 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) we analyzed the expression of EAAT-3 and GAT-1 transporter proteins in cells of the CA1 and dentate gyrus. Methods Dual immunofluorescence was used to detect the co-localization of transporters and a neuronal marker. In parallel, EEG recordings were performed and convulsive behavior was rated using a modified Racine Scale. Results By 60 min after 4-AP injection, EAAT-3/NeuN co-labelling had increased in dentate granule cells and decreased in CA1 pyramidal cells. In the latter, this decrease persisted for up to 180 min after 4-AP administration. In both the DG and CA1, the number of GAT-1 labeled cells increased 60 min after 4-AP administration, although by 180 min GAT-1 labeled cells decreased in the DG alone. The increase in EAAT-3/NeuN colabelling in DG was correlated with maximum epileptiform activity and convulsive behavior. Conclusions These findings suggest that a compensatory mechanism exists to protect against acute seizures induced by 4-AP, whereby EAAT-3/NeuN cells is rapidly up regulated in order to enhance the removal of glutamate from the extrasynaptic space, and attenuating seizure activity.

Background and Aims Glutamate and GABA transporters are cell surface proteins localized on neurons and glial cells that mediate the reuptake of glutamate and GABA from the extracellular space. In different models of the acquisition of epilepsy, important changes in the expression of these transporters have been demonstrated, although to date no such studies have been performed using the monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced seizure model in neonatal rats. Methods Following repeated MSG administration, we used immunofluorescence techniques to quantify the number of cells expressing the EAAT-3 and GAT-1 transporters at postnatal days (PD) 14 and 60 in the dentate gyrus (DG) and CA1 region of the hippocampus. Results EAAT-3 and GAT-1 were expressed around the soma of granular cells and in the soma and dendrites of pyramidal cells in both experimental (MSG) and control (NaCl) rats. In the DG, MSG administration significantly increased the number of granular cells double-labelled for EAAT-3/Neun at PD 60 but not PD 14. No significant changes were observed at either PD 14 or 60 in terms of the number of cells expressing GAT-1 in the DG or CA1. Conclusions The findings suggest that the selective long-term increase in EAAT-3 expression in granular cells following neonatal MSG treatment reflects an important compensatory or protective response to the excitotoxic and seizure-promoting effects of early glutamate exposure in adult animals.

Objective. To evaluate the association of -174G/CIL-6polymorphism with failure in therapeutic response to methotrexate (MTX) or leflunomide (LEF). This prospective, observational cohort included 96 Mexican-Mestizo patients with moderate or severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), initiating MTX or LEF, genotyped forIL-6-174G/C polymorphism by PCR-RFLP. Therapeutic response was strictly defined: only if patients achieved remission or low disease activity (DAS-28 < 3.2).Results. Patients with MTX or LEF had significant decrement in DAS-28 (p<0.001); nevertheless, only 14% and 12.5% achieved DAS-28 < 3.2 at 3 and 6 months. After 6 months with any of these drugs the -174G/G genotype carriers (56%) had higher risk of therapeutic failure compared with GC (RR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.07–1.56). By analyzing each drug separately, after 6 months with LEF, GG genotype confers higher risk of therapeutic failure than GC (RR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.05–2.3;p=0.003), or CC (RR = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.07–3.14;p=0.001). This risk was also observed in the dominant model (RR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.03–1.72;p=0.02). Instead, in patients receiving MTX no genotype was predictor of therapeutic failure. We concluded thatIL-6-174G/G genotype confers higher risk of failure in therapeutic response to LEF in Mexicans and if confirmed in other populations this can be used as promissory genetic marker to differentiate risk of therapeutic failure to LEF.