Open AccessBlood MALT1, Th1, and Th17 cells are dysregulated, inter‐correlated, and correlated with disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients; meanwhile, MALT1 decline during therapy relates to treatment outcome
Author(s) -
Ye Zhuang,
Chen Lu,
Fang Ying,
Zhao Ling
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of clinical laboratory analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1098-2825
pISSN - 0887-8013
DOI - 10.1002/jcla.24112
Subject(s) - rheumatoid arthritis , medicine , biomarker , immunology , autoimmune disease , arthritis , disease , gastroenterology , oncology , biology , biochemistry
Objective Mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein 1 (MALT1) participates in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases via activating various signaling pathways and promoting the differentiation of T‐helper (Th) 1 and Th17 cells; however, it is rarely reported in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to assess the correlation of MALT1 with Th1 and Th17 cells and evaluate its potential as a biomarker for evaluating disease activity and treatment outcomes in RA patients. Methods This study enrolled 139 RA patients and 45 health controls (HCs); then, blood MALT1, Th1, and Th17 cells were determined. For RA patients only, blood MALT1 at week (W) 6 and W12 after treatment was also detected. Additionally, clinical response and remission of RA patients were assessed at W12. Results MALT1 ( p < 0.001), Th1 ( p = 0.011), and Th17 ( p < 0.001) cells were all increased in RA patients than HCs; meanwhile, increased MALT1 was associated with elevated Th1 ( p = 0.003) and Th17 ( p < 0.001) cells in RA patients. Besides, MALT1, Th1, and Th17 cells were positively correlated with parts of disease activity indexes in RA patients (all p < 0.050). In addition, MALT1 was gradually declined from W0 to W12 ( p < 0.001) in RA patients. Specifically, MALT1 at W6 and W12 was lower in response patients than no response patients (both p < 0.010), also in remission patients than no remission patients (both p < 0.050). Conclusion MALT1, Th1, and Th17 cells are dysregulated, inter‐correlated, and correlated with disease activity in RA patients; meanwhile, the decline of MALT1 expression can partly reflect RA treatment response and remission.