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Evidence of NLRP3-inflammasome activation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA); genetic variants within the NLRP3-inflammasome complex in relation to susceptibility to RA and response to anti-TNF treatment

Lookup NU author(s): Professor John IsaacsORCiD

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Abstract

Background The NLRP3-inflammasome, implicated in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory disorders, has been analysed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods Relative gene expression of NLRP3-inflammasome components was characterised in PBMCs of 29 patients receiving infliximab. A total of 1278 Caucasian patients with RA from the Biologics in Rheumatoid Arthritis Genetics and Genomics Study Syndicate (BRAGGSS) cohort receiving tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists (infliximab, adalimumab and etanercept) were genotyped for 34 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), spanning the genes NLRP3, MEFV and CARD8. Regression analyses were performed to test for association between genotype and susceptibility and treatment response (disease activity score across 28 joints (DAS28) and EULAR improvement criteria) at 6 months, with secondary expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analyses.Results At baseline, gene expression of ASC, MEFV, NLRP3-FL, NLRP3-SL and CASP1 were significantly higher compared with controls whereas CARD8 was lower in the patients. Caspase-1 and interleukin-18 levels were significantly raised in patients with RA. SNPs in NLRP3 showed association with RA susceptibility and EULAR response to anti-TNF in the BRAGGSS cohort, and in monocytes but not B cells, in eQTL analysis of 283 healthy controls. CARD8 SNPs were associated with RA susceptibility and DAS28 improvement in response to anti-TNF and eQTL effects in monocytes and B cells.Conclusions This study found evidence of modulation of the NLRP3-inflammasome in patients with RA prior to receiving infliximab and some evidence of association for SNPs at NLRP3 and CARD8 loci with RA susceptibility and response to anti-TNF. The SNPs associated with susceptibility/response are not the main eQTL variants for either locus, and the associations with treatment response require replication in an independent cohort.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Mathews RJ, Robinson JI, Battellino M, Wong C, Taylor JC, Biologics in Rheumatoid Arthritis Genetics and Genomics Study Syndicate (BRAGGSS), Eyre S, Churchman SM, Wilson AG, Isaacs JD, Hyrich K, Barton A, Plant D, Savic S, Cook GP, Sarzi-Puttini P, Emery P, Barrett JH, Morgan AW, McDermott MF

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

Year: 2014

Volume: 73

Issue: 6

Pages: 1202-1210

Print publication date: 01/06/2014

Online publication date: 17/05/2014

Acceptance date: 14/04/2014

ISSN (print): 0003-4967

ISSN (electronic): 1468-2060

Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203276

DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203276


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
223 404European Union
17 552Arthritis Research UK
RSC91Sir Jules Thorn 'Seed Corn' Fund

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