Rheumatoid Arthritis: Riccieri V

Firuzi O, Spadaro A, Spadaro C, Riccieri V, Petrucci R, Marrosu G, Saso L. · Dipartimento di Fisiologia Umana e Farmacologia Vittorio Erspamer, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome, Italy. · J Clin Lab Anal. · Pubmed #18484659 No free full text.

Abstract: The role of oxidative stress has been studied in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory joint diseases to some extent, but its importance in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has rarely been investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze the levels of protein oxidation markers, sulfhydryl (SH) and carbonyl (CO) groups, in the synovial fluid (SF) and serum of PsA patients and compare them with the findings in RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients. A total of 49 subjects with a knee-joint effusion including 16 PsA, 18 RA, and 15 OA patients were studied. In all patients, the levels of SH groups measured in the serum and SF inversely correlated with the number of white blood cells (WBC) (P<0.05) and the percentage of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) (P<0.01) in SF. Serum SH levels inversely correlated with serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P<0.02) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (P<0.05) values. The SH levels in SF were significantly lower in patients affected by PsA and RA compared to OA cases (P<0.02). The serum SH levels in PsA were lower than OA (P<0.001) and higher than RA patients (P<0.05). The serum and synovial levels of CO groups in PsA, RA, and OA patients were similar. Our study provides novel evidence on the involvement of protein oxidation in PsA and confirms the important role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of RA. These data suggest that antioxidant agents can potentially be a useful addition to the conventional therapy in the management of these diseases.

Sarzi-Puttini P, Atzeni F, Di Franco M, Lama N, Batticciotto A, Iannuccelli C, Dell'Acqua D, de Portu S, Riccieri V, Carrabba M, Buskila D, Doria A, Valesini G. · Rheumatology Unit, L. Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy. · Autoimmunity. · Pubmed #18176867 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of antipolymer antibody (APA) in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and to examine its association with FM severity symptoms. METHODS: The study population consisted of 79 FM patients and 75 controls: 32 with psoriatic arthritis and 43 with rheumatoid arthritis APA levels were indirectly assayed using a commercial ELISA kit from Corgenix (Westmister, Colorado, USA). Optical density (OD) values were recorded on duplicates of each of the reference and patient samples. Among clinical variables we investigated pain, measured according to visual analog scales (VAS: 0-100), fatigue, stiffness, anxiety, depression, all measured by VAS (0-100), and health status measured by Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). RESULTS: Sixteen of the 79 FM patients (20.3%) and 12/78 controls (15.4%) were positive for APAs (P = 0.536). Following ROC analysis, area under curve (AUC) was 0.49 (95% CI: 0.40, 0.58). Focusing on FM patients, we observed a correlation between APA titre and pain (tau: - 0.221; P = 0.020) and fatigue (tau: - 0.205; P = 0.032) at univariate analysis. Binomial regression analysis, controlling for clinical and demographic variables, showed that pain (PPR: 0.923; P = 0.007) and fatigue (PPR: 0.948; P = 0.024) were significantly associated with APA test sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: APA test exhibited a low sensitivity in FM patients and it did not distinguish this group of patients from the controls enrolled in this study. Interestingly, positive APA test prevalence increased with less severe pain or fatigue.

Spadaro A, Scrivo R, Riccieri V, Valesini G. · Dipartimento di Clinica e Terapia Medica - Divisione di Reumatologia, Sapienza Università di Roma, Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Roma, Italy. · Joint Bone Spine. · Pubmed #17890133 No free full text.

Abstract: The proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha seems to play a major role in the pathogenesis of both rheumatoid arthritis and primary biliary cirrhosis. We describe the case of a 46-year-old female patient with rheumatoid arthritis and concomitant primary biliary cirrhosis treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha agents. During infliximab treatment we observed a poor clinical response and persistence of liver function test abnormalities. After infliximab interruption the levels of alkaline phosphatase dropped and had nearly reached normal values when etanercept was started. This new therapeutic regimen was well tolerated with joint clinical improvement and normalization of alkaline phosphatase. This single case shows that etanercept therapy maintained liver enzymes within the normal range and controlled the arthritis with a 30-month follow-up whereas infliximab did not account for similar results.

Spadaro A, Riccieri V, Scrivo R, Alessandri C, Valesini G. · Dipartimento di Clinica e Terapia Medica - Rheumatology Unit, Divisione di Reumatologia, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy. a.spadaro.reuma@ virgilio.it · Clin Exp Rheumatol. · Pubmed #17888217 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of anti-CCP antibodies in synovial fluid (SF) of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients by analysing their association with different clinical patterns of the disease. METHODS: Seventy-five patients with a knee-joint effusion were studied, including 31 PsA patients, 29 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 15 osteoarthritis (OA) patients. SF and paired serum samples were stored at -70 degrees C until IgG anti-CCP and total IgG determination. The pattern of PsA articular involvement was defined as mono-, oligo-, polyarticular or axial. RESULTS: Lower levels of IgG anti-CCP antibodies in SF (p < 0.01) and serum (p < 0.005) were found in PsA respect to RA patients without difference with OA. We found a higher SF/serum ratio for anti-CCP compared to the SF/serum ratio for total IgG in PsA (p < 0.0005) as well as in RA and OA. The correction of anti-CCP concentration in SF as IgG anti-CCP (unit) / total IgG revealed lower (p < 0.002) values in PsA patients with respect to RA patients. In PsA group, values of anti-CCP antibodies, SF/serum ratio of anti-CCP and anti-CCP/IgG above the cut-off were found in 5, 6 and 2 SF samples respectively. The presence or absence of anti-CCP antibodies did not discriminate a particular clinical subset. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, strengthening the concept of local production of anti-CCP antibodies within the joint space, our results suggest that anti-CCP antibody detection in SF should take into account corrections such as total amount of corresponding immunoglobulin or SF/serum ratio. In our study, the presence or absence of anti-CCP antibodies did not discriminate a particular clinical subset, but further longitudinal studies are required to clarify the clinical role of anti-CCP in PsA.

Tincani A, Morozzi G, Afeltra A, Alessandri C, Allegri F, Bistoni O, Bizzaro N, Caccavo D, Galeazzi M, Gerli R, Giovannelli L, Longobardo G, Lotzniker M, Malacarne F, Migliorini P, Parodi A, Pregnolato F, Radice A, Riccieri V, Ruffelli M, Sinico RA, Tozzoli R, Villalta D, Marcolongo R, Meroni P, Anonymous00320. · Reumatologia e Immunologia Clinica, Ospedale Civile e Università di Brescia, Italy. · Clin Exp Rheumatol. · Pubmed #17543152 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Prothrombin (PT) is a target for antibodies with lupus anticoagulant (LA) activity, suggesting the possible application of anti-prothrombin antibody (aPT) assays in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Different methods - both homemade and commercial - for the detection of aPT are available, but they seem to produce conflicting results. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of different assays on a set of well-characterized serum samples. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sera were gathered from 4 FIRMA institutions, and distributed to 15 participating centres. Forty-five samples were from patients positive for LA and/or anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) with or without APS, and 15 were from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients negative for antiphospholipid antibodies. The samples were evaluated for IgG and IgM antibodies using a homemade direct aPT assay (method 1), a homemade phosphatidylserine-dependent aPT assay (aPS/PT, method 2), and two different commercial kits (methods 3 and 4). In addition, a commercial kit for the detection of IgG-A-M aPT (method 5) was used. RESULTS: Inter-laboratory results for the 5 methods were not always comparable when different methods were used. Good inter-assay concordance was found for IgG antibodies evaluated using methods 1, 3, and 4 (Cohen k > 0.4), while the IgM results were discordant between assays. In patients with thrombosis and pregnancy losses, method 5 performed better than the others. CONCLUSION: While aPT and aPS/PT assays could be of interest from a clinical perspective, their routine performance cannot yet be recommended because of problems connected with the reproducibility and interpretation of the results.

Pasqui F, Mastrodonato L, Ceccarelli F, Scrivo R, Magrini L, Riccieri V, Di Franco M, Gentili M, Valesini G, Spadaro A. · Cattedra di Reumatologia, Dip. di Clinica e Terapia Medica Applicata, Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", Roma, Italia. · Reumatismo. · Pubmed #17013435 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of occupational therapy (OT) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with anti-TNF-alpha drugs in a short-term open controlled prospective study. METHODS: 31 RA subjects [(M/F=5/26; mean age= 56 (range=28-73) years; mean disease duration= 165 (range =15-432) months], treated with anti- TNF-alpha drugs, were allocated to OT (n=15) or control (n=16) group. We evaluated at entry and 12 weeks the following outcome parameters including Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Global Health (GH), Ritchie index, number of swollen or tender joints, pain, patient and physician disease activity, Disease Activity Score (DAS28), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein CRP) and the correct adherence to items regarding activity daily living (ADL). RESULTS: At baseline, OT and control group had similar demographic and clinical features. After 12 weeks, the changes from baseline of main outcome parameters were not significantly different between the two groups. After 12 weeks, in 7 out of 11 items regarding ADL, the percentage of patients showing a correct adherence was significantly increased in OT group only. Moreover at the end of the study, the OT group showed a correct adherence to 8 out of 11 ADL items in an higher percentage of patients respect to the control group. CONCLUSION: Our study sustains that OT improves self-management but not main parameters of disease activity or functional capacity. Nevertheless educational intervention should be considered as a useful tool in conjunction with pharmacological treatment.

Spadaro A, Riccieri V, Alessandri C, Scrivo R, Valesini G. · Cattedra di Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Clinica e Terapia Medica Applicata, Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Roma. · Reumatismo. · Pubmed #16829989 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody detection in synovial fluid (SF) of RA patients compared to OA patients. METHODS: We evaluated in 25 RA subjects and 14 OA patients, presenting a knee-joint effusion, the main clinical and laboratory parameters including the number of painful and/or swollen joints, Ritchie index, morning stiffness, ESR, CRP and analysis of SF obtained by therapeutic arthrocentesis. IgG anti-CCP (ELISA), rheumatoid factor (RF) and total IgG (nephelometry method) were measured in SF and paired serum samples. RESULTS: We found anti-CCP antibodies and RF in 64% (16/25) and 60% (15/25) of RA sera, respectively; 72% (18/25) of RA patients were positive for anti-CCP antibodies or RF. We found a higher SF/serum ratio for anti-CCP (p<0.004) compared to that for total IgG. The calculation of anti-CCP concentration as IgG anti-CCP (units)/total IgG (g L-1) revealed higher values in SF than in serum (p<0.046) in RA patients. Among these, correlation analysis showed that anti-CCP/total IgG values in SF correlated with the relative concentration of serum anti-CCP/total IgG (rs=0.842; p<0.00001) and serum anti-CCP antibody levels (rs=0.799; p<0.0001). We did not find any correlation between SF anti-CCP levels and the main characteristics of SF as well as the clinical or laboratory parameters. CONCLUSION: Our study give evidence for a preferential production of anti-CCP antibodies at RA joint level, confirming the pathogenetic role of these autoantibodies. Moreover, SF determination of anti-CCP, corrected for the total amount of the corresponding immunoglobulin, may be helpful as diagnostic tool in selected cases.

Firuzi O, Fuksa L, Spadaro C, Bousová I, Riccieri V, Spadaro A, Petrucci R, Marrosu G, Saso L. · Dipartimento di Fisiologia Umana e Farmacologia "Vittorio Erspamer", Università di Roma "La Sapienza", Italy. · J Pharm Pharmacol. · Pubmed #16805955 No free full text.

Abstract: The involvement of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of rheumatic disorders, such as systemic sclerosis (SSc) and chronic polyarthritides, has been suggested yet not thoroughly verified experimentally. We analysed 4 plasmatic parameters of oxidative stress in patients with SSc (n = 17), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) (n = 10) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n = 9) compared with healthy subjects (n = 22). The biomarkers were: total antioxidant capacity (TAC) measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method, hydroperoxides determined by ferrous ion oxidation in presence of xylenol orange (FOX) method and sulfhydryl and carbonyl groups assessed by spectrophotometric assays. The results showed significantly increased hydroperoxides in SSc, PsA and RA (3.97 +/- 2.25, 4.87 +/- 2.18 and 5.13 +/- 2.36 micromol L(-1), respectively) compared with the control group (2.31 +/- 1.40 micromol L(-1); P < 0.05). Sulfhydryls were significantly lower in SSc (0.466 +/- 0.081 mmol L(-1)), PsA (0.477 +/- 0.059 mmol L(-1)) and RA (0.439 +/- 0.065 mmol L(-1)) compared with the control group (0.547 +/- 0.066 mmol L(-1); P < 0.05). TAC in all three diseases showed no difference in comparison with controls. Carbonyls were significantly higher in RA than in the control group (32.1 +/- 42 vs 2.21 +/- 1.0 nmol (mg protein)(-1); P < 0.05). The obtained data indicate augmented free radical-mediated injury in these rheumatic diseases and suggest a role for the use of antioxidants in prevention and treatment of these pathologies.

Scrivo R, Spadaro A, Riccieri V, Bombardieri M, Di Franco M, Celestino D, Valesini G. · Cattedra di Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Clinica e Terapia Medica Applicata, Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico, 155 - 00161 Roma, Italia. · Reumatismo. · Pubmed #16380751 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: P-selectin is an adhesion molecule expressed by activated endothelial cells and platelets favouring the leukocyte adherence to microvascular endothelium. A soluble form of this molecule has been described, whose serum levels were found to be elevated and correlate with disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Aim of this study was to determine soluble P-selectin levels in synovial fluid (SF) and serum from patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), where it has never been investigated, to define its involvement in PsA synovial damage. METHODS: we analysed, by ELISA, soluble P-selectin serum and SF levels in 100 patients presenting a knee joint effusion: 38 of them presented PsA, 40 RA and 22 osteoarthritis (OA). We examined the main clinical and laboratory parameters of these patients. Soluble P-selectin serum levels were also detected in 15 healthy subjects. RESULTS: soluble P-selectin SF levels were significantly higher in PsA and RA patients respect to OA subjects. Soluble P-selectin SF levels were lower than those found in serum and the SF/serum ratio was higher in PsA and RA patients respect to OA. Soluble P-selectin serum levels were not significantly different among patients and controls. No correlation was found between SF and serum levels of soluble P-selectin and the main clinical parameters. CONCLUSIONS: our study of soluble P-selectin in PsA reveals a prominent local role of this molecule, with no differences respect to RA. Histological findings may be of help in understanding the role of this adhesion molecule in PsA.

Lande R, Giacomini E, Serafini B, Rosicarelli B, Sebastiani GD, Minisola G, Tarantino U, Riccieri V, Valesini G, Coccia EM. · Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. · J Immunol. · Pubmed #15295000 links to  free full text

Abstract: Dendritic cells (DCs) are thought to play a key role in driving the immunopathogenic response underlying chronic inflammatory arthritis. In this study, we have examined the presence and phenotype of plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) in the synovial fluids (SF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PA), and osteoarthritis (OA) and determined the chemotactic properties of SF from these patients toward pDCs. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the percentage of pDCs, identified as a population of Lin(-)CD123(++) cells, is 4- to 5-fold higher in RA SF and PA SF than in OA SF. The morphological and immunophenotypic characterization of pDCs isolated from PA and RA SF indicates that they are in an immature state, most likely due to inhibitory factors present in RA SF, but are still able to undergo maturation when exposed ex vivo to viral agent or unmethylated DNA. CD123(+) and BDCA2(+) pDCs were detected by immunohistochemistry in RA synovial tissue in which expression of the IFN-alpha-inducible protein MxA was also found, suggesting production of type I IFN by maturing pDCs. We also show that CXCR3 and CXCR4 are expressed by both blood-derived pDCs and pDCs isolated from RA and PA SF and that CXCL-10, CXCL-11, and CXCL-12 present in RA and PA SF stimulate chemotaxis of blood-derived pDCs. Altogether, these findings suggest that chemokine-driven recruitment of pDCs from the blood to the inflamed synovium could be important in the regulation of the immune response in chronic inflammatory arthritis.

Bombardieri M, Alessandri C, Labbadia G, Iannuccelli C, Carlucci F, Riccieri V, Paoletti V, Valesini G. · Cattedra di Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Clinica e Terapia Medica Applicata - Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy. · Arthritis Res Ther. · Pubmed #15059277 links to  free full text

Abstract: This study was performed to assess the utility of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies in distinguishing between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and patients with polyarticular involvement associated with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Serum anti-CCP antibodies and rheumatoid factor (RF) were evaluated in 30 patients with RA, 8 patients with chronic HCV infection and associated articular involvement and 31 patients with chronic HCV infection without any joint involvement. In addition, we retrospectively analysed sera collected at the time of first visit in 10 patients originally presenting with symmetric polyarthritis and HCV and subsequently developing well-established RA. Anti-CCP antibodies and RF were detected by commercial second-generation anti-CCP2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunonephelometry respectively. Anti-CCP antibodies were detected in 23 of 30 (76.6%) patients with RA but not in patients with chronic HCV infection irrespective of the presence of articular involvement. Conversely, RF was detected in 27 of 30 (90%) patients with RA, 3 of 8 (37.5%) patients with HCV-related arthropathy and 3 of 31 (9.7%) patients with HCV infection without joint involvement. Finally, anti-CCP antibodies were retrospectively detected in 6 of 10 (60%) patients with RA and HCV. This indicates that anti-CCP antibodies can be useful in discriminating patients with RA from patients with HCV-associated arthropathy.

Spadaro A, Scrivo R, Rinaldi T, Riccieri V, Sili Scavalli A, Taccari E, Valesini G. · Dipartimento di Terapia Medica, Divisione di Reumatologia, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Italia. · Reumatismo. · Pubmed #12105679 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: IL-12 is a proinflammatory cytokine produced by different antigen presenting cells. It has been shown to exert a critical role in inducing Th1 phenotype, thus initiating cell-mediated immune responses, but the significance of IL-12 in rheumatic diseases is not clear. Aim of the study was to determine IL-12 serum levels in immune rheumatic diseases and to analyse the relationship of this cytokine with main clinical and laboratory parameters. METHODS: We analysed, by ELISA, serum IL-12 levels in 114 patients with SLE, 47 with SS, 32 with SSc, 84 with RA, 138 with PA and in 17 healthy controls. We also examined main clinical and laboratory parameters, including autoantibody profile and clinical indices of disease activity. RESULTS: IL-12 serum levels were significantly higher in SLE and SS patients respect to controls. IL-12 serum levels were significantly higher in SLE patients compared to those affected by RA, PA and SSc. When we evaluated disease activity in SLE patients, we found significantly higher IL-12 serum levels in subjects with fever or in those without renal involvement, while no correlation was found in the other rheumatic immune diseases. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that IL-12, modulating cell and humoral immune responses, is involved in the pathogenesis of immune rheumatic diseases, such as SLE and SS.

Spadaro A, Rinaldi T, Riccieri V, Taccari E, Valesini G. · Department of Medical Therapy, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy. · Clin Exp Rheumatol. · Pubmed #12051401 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Several cytokines play a role in the production of autoantibodies such as RF and ANA by B-lymphocytes; the role of IL-13 in this process has not been previously studied. We investigated the relationship between the serum concentration of this cytokine and circulating autoantibodies. METHODS: IL-13 serum levels, as well as RF and ANA, were evaluated in 282 patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases including RA (n=84), SLE (n= 114), SS (n=52) and Scl (n=32). RESULTS: Serum levels of IL-13 (pg/ml) were significantly higher in patients with RA (p < 0.00003), SLE (p < 0.03), SS (p < 0.0007), or Scl (p < 0.025) compared to controls. IL-13 serum levels correlated with those of RF in RA (p < 0.00001), SLE (p < 0.003) and Scl (p < 0.03). IL-13 levels were higher in RA (p<0.0003), SLE (p<0.005) and Scl (p<0.05) patients with RF than in patients without RF. SS patients with antiSSA/Ro antibodies had significantly higher IL-13 levels than SS patients without this autoantibody (p < 0.04). No statistically significant correlation was found between IL-13 levels and any other antinuclear autoantibody, total immunoglobulin levels or the main clinicalfeatures of each disease. CONCLUSION: The evidence of higher IL-13 levels in our RA, SLE, SS and Scl patients confirms that this cytokine is involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The relationship of this cytokine with RF in RA, SLE and Scl, as well as with antiSSA/ Ro antibody in SS, strengthens the hypothesis that it plays a role in autoantibody production. However, the different autoantibody synthesis by B-cells recognises different pathways depending on the underlying autoimmune disease.

Spadaro A, Rinaldi T, Riccieri V, Valesini G, Taccari E. · Department of Medical Therapy, Rheumatology Unit, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy. · Ann Rheum Dis. · Pubmed #11796407 links to  free full text

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To compare the pattern of interleukin (IL) 13 production in synovial fluid (SF) and serum of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) with that in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA), investigating its relation to the proinflammatory cytokine IL12. METHODS: SF and serum IL13 levels were determined in 35 patients with PsA, 36 with RA, and 15 with OA. The main clinical and laboratory variables, including number of painful and/or swollen joints, Ritchie index, morning stiffness, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, level of C reactive protein, level of rheumatoid factor, and SF analysis, were also evaluated. RESULTS: SF IL13 levels were significantly higher in patients with PsA (p<0.02) or RA (p<0.012) than in patients with OA, with no significant difference between the former two. SF IL12 levels were significantly higher in patients with PsA (p<0.023) than in those with OA. Serum IL13 (p<0.0001) and IL12 (p<0.02) levels were lower in patients with PsA than in those affected by RA. Only patients with PsA had higher IL13 levels in SF than in serum (p<0.002). The IL13 SF/serum ratio was higher in the PsA group than in the group with RA (p<0.005) or OA (p<0.026). SF IL13 levels correlated with serum IL13 levels (p<0.0001) in RA and with SF IL12 levels (p<0.03) in PsA. CONCLUSIONS: In PsA, there appears to be localised production of IL13, in balance with IL12, in the inflamed joints. The distinct IL13 secretion profiles in PsA, RA, and OA may be related to the clinical pictures, reflecting the different pathogenic mechanisms involved in inflammatory and degenerative joint diseases.

Spadaro A, Riccieri V, Benfari G, Scillone M, Taccari E. · La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. · Clin Rheumatol. · Pubmed #11642512 No free full text.

Abstract: Our aim was to study sIL-2R relationship with main serum immunological and LSG immunohistochemical parameters, including surface antigen expression of immune activation, in 27 patients with primary SS. Serum sIL-2R levels were significantly higher in SS (p<0.00005), as well as in SLE (p<0.05) and RA (p< 0.000001) patients than in controls. In SS patients with abnormal slL-2R values (n = 7) we found higher levels of anti-SSB/La antibodies (p<0.05), IgM-RF (p<0.014) and CRP (p<0.003) with respect to those with normal sIL-2R values (n = 20). Moreover, sIL-2R levels correlated positively with those of anti-SSB/La antibodies (p<0.0037) and with CRP (p<0.008). The comparison of groups with (A) and without (B) abnormal slL-2R levels reveals a statistically different percentage of patients with foci number > 1 (86% vs 40%; p <0.047), and CD25 expression on lymphocytes (100% vs 40%; p < 0.008). The frequency (p < 0.025) of CD25 expression on lymphocytes was higher in group A than in group B. The frequency of CD25 expression on the infiltrates correlated not only with sIL-2R levels (p<0.047), but also with anti-SSB/La antibody values (p < 0.044), with Tarpley histological classes (p < 0.009) and with frequency of HLA-DR expression on lymphocytes (p<0.004) and on epithelial cells (p<0.002). The frequency of epithelial CD25 expression also correlated with that of epithelial HLA-DR (p<0.004). Our report suggests that slL-2R is linked to glandular involvement in primary SS.

Taccari E, Sensi F, Spadaro A, Riccieri V, Rinaldi T. · Department of Medical Therapy, Rheumatology Unit, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. · Osteoporos Int. · Pubmed #11444091 No free full text.

Abstract: Bone ultrasound parameters at the proximal phalanges of the hands were measured in 55 male patients with psoriatic arthritis (PA) (39 with peripheral radiologic involvement and 16 with axial involvement), comparing the findings with those in 16 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, 20 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and 55 age- and sex-matched normal controls. Mean values of amplitude-dependent speed of sound (Ad-SoS) and ultrasound bone profile score (UBPS) were significantly lower in RA (p < 0.001 and p < 1 x 10(-5)) and PA (p < 0.03 and p < 1 x 10(-6)) patients than in controls, while there was no statistically significant difference between AS patients and healthy subjects. Ultrasound parameters showed a significant negative correlation with age in all groups. In each patient group ultrasound values were unrelated either to disease duration or to inflammatory indices such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. Moreover no significant differences were observed between ultrasound parameters of the dominant and the nondominant hand. PA patients with and without axial radiologic changes did not show any differences in ultrasound parameters. However, PA subjects with peripheral involvement only had significantly higher Ad-SoS (p < 0.04) and UBPS (p < 0.04) values than RA patients. PA patients with axial lesions had significantly lower (p < 0.04 and p < 0.01) ultrasound values than AS patients. These findings suggest that PA ultrasound techniques performed at the peripheral level are of value to speculate on bone involvement, although we think that ultrasound measurements cannot yet be recommended for monitoring bone involvement in these patients.

Riccieri V, Spadaro A, Saso L, Valentini G, Taccari E, Silvestrini B. · Department of Medical Therapy, Rheumatology Unit, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy. · Clin Exp Rheumatol. · Pubmed #11247326 No free full text.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: [corrected] To assess the possible correlations between the immune activation of certain surface antigens at the lip salivary gland (LSG) level, and changes in glycosylation of serum proteins in primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). METHODS: LSG biopsy samples were obtained from 22 SS patients (mean age 56.3 years; mean disease duration 70.8 months) and prepared for immunohistochemical analysis using murine monoclonal antibodies for interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) (CD25) and for the class II major histocompatibility antigen HLA-DR. The glycosylation of serum proteins was evaluated in all patients by an enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA) using concanavalin A (Con A). RESULTS: In LSG specimens the presence of IL-2R was observed at the infiltrating level, mainly periductally, in 13 (59%) cases and on the epithelial cells of 14 (64%) patients. In 13 out of 22 SS patients (59%) a marked positivity both of the infiltrates and of the epithelium was found for anti-HLA-DR monoclonal antibody. The degree of expression of different antigens on LSG samples was correlated with their histologic class according to Tarpley evaluation. The positivity for IL-2R and HLA-DR molecules on glandular tissues was correlated. A significant increase in the total Con A reactivity of serum proteins was found in those patients expressing IL-2R and HLA-DR antigens on LSG specimens. CONCLUSIONS: The co-expression of IL-2R and HLA-DR antigens on both the epithelium and infiltrates of LSG is consistent with a participation of these cells in the immune process of SS. Moreover, changes in the glycosylation of serum proteins seem to be related to the presence of these immunoactivation markers of the disease at the LSG level, suggesting that the control of protein glycosylation could be mediated by the same mechanisms involved in the tissue damage of SS.

Saso L, Valentini G, Riccieri V, Spadaro A, Zoppini A, Silvestrini B. · Department of Pharmacology of Natural Substances and General Physiology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy. · IUBMB Life. · Pubmed #10632566 No free full text.

Abstract: A strong increase of the affinity for concanavalin A (Con A) of serum alpha 2-macroglobulin, a non-acute-phase protein, was observed by lectin blotting in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). On the contrary, the total Con A reactivity of serum proteins, measured by enzyme-linked lectin assay, was not augmented in SS, compared with normal donors, probably because positive changes of certain proteins were balanced by negative changes of others, as suggested by lectin blotting analysis. However, a significant increase of total Con A reactivity occurred in subjects with increased serum concentrations of soluble interleukin (IL)-2 receptor, compared with patients with normal concentrations of this marker of disease activity. On the other hand, the same parameter did not appear to be different in patients with normal or increased serum concentrations of IL-6, indicating that this cytokine was not probably responsible for the changes of glycosylation described here.

Riccieri V, Sciarra I, Ceccarelli F, Alessandri C, Croia C, Vasile M, Modesti MG, Priori R, Valesini G. · No affiliation provided · Rheumatology (Oxford). · Pubmed #19307256 No free full text.

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Spadaro A, Riccieri V, Scrivo R, Alessandri C, Valesini G. · No affiliation provided · Arthritis Rheum. · Pubmed #16874773 links to  free full text

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Spadaro A, Riccieri V. · No affiliation provided · Ann Rheum Dis. · Pubmed #16014691 links to  free full text

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Spadaro A, Riccieri V, Taccari E. · No affiliation provided · Lancet. · Pubmed #11145511 No free full text.

This publication has no abstract.