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Inflammatory gene profile in early rheumatoid arthritis and modulation by leflunomide and prednisone treatment
Author(s) -
Cutolo Maurizio,
Villaggio Barbara,
Pizzorni Carmen,
Paolino Sabrina,
Moretti Stefano,
Gallo Fabio,
Bonassi Stefano,
Sulli Alberto,
Seriolo Bruno,
Montagna Paola,
Soldano Stefano
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.05297.x
Subject(s) - leflunomide , rheumatoid arthritis , prednisone , downregulation and upregulation , microarray , medicine , gene , arthritis , microarray analysis techniques , immunology , gene expression , pathogenesis , endocrinology , biology , genetics
The effects of low dose prednisone (PD) alone or in combination with leflunomide (LEF) were tested on inflammatory gene expression in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Ten RA patients were assigned as group A (untreated)and group B (pretreated with PD 5 mg/day for 3 months ‐T0). Therefore, both groups were treated with LFN (20mg/day). Expression ratio of 34 inflammatory genes was detected by microarray analysis in early RA patients and CNT (5), before (T0), and after 3 months (T1) of combined therapy (PN+LFN). At T0, 17 genes linked with arthritis were found altered in early RA, (A and B groups), compared to CNT. At T1 in the group A, 41% of genes were found unchanged, 12% upregulated, and 47% downregulated, whereas in the group B, 65% of genes were found unchanged, 6% upregulated, and 29% downregulated. The results suggest that the combination of PN and LEF seems to play a synergistic effect by modulating some inflammatory genes in early RA.