[Effect of chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10 on bone erosion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the serum level of soluble chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to analyze their correlation with bone erosion, as well as the clinical significance in RA. METHODS: In the study, 105 cases of RA patients, 90 osteoarthritis (OA) patients and 25 healthy controls in Peking University People's Hospital were included. All the clinical information of the patients was collected, and the serum CXCL9 and CXCL10 levels of both patients and healthy controls were measured by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). CXCL9 and CXCL10 levels among different groups were compared. The correlation between serum levels with clinical/laboratory parameters and the occurrence of bone erosion in RA were analyzed. Independent sample t test, Chi square test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman's rank correlation and Logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10 were significantly higher in the RA patients [250.02 (126.98, 484.29) ng/L, 108.43 (55.16, 197.17) ng/L] than in the OA patients [165.05 (75.89, 266.37) ng/L, 69.00 (33.25, 104.74) ng/L] and the health controls [79.47 (38.22, 140.63) ng/L, 55.44 (18.76, 95.86) ng/L] (all P < 0.01). Spearman's correlation analysis showed that the level of serum CXCL9 was positively correlated with swollen joints (SJC), rheumatoid factor (RF) and disease activity score 28 (DAS28) (r=0.302, 0.285, 0.289; P=0.009, 0.015, 0.013). The level of serum CXCL10 was positively correlated with tender joints (TJC), SJC, C-reactive protein (CRP), immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgM, RF, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA), and DAS28 (r=0.339, 0.402, 0.269, 0.266, 0.345, 0.570, 0.540, 0.364; P=0.010, 0.002, 0.043, 0.045, 0.009, < 0.001, < 0.001, 0.006). Serum CXCL9 and CXCL10 levels in the RA patients with bone erosion were extremely higher than those without bone erosion [306.84 (234.02, 460.55) ng/L vs. 149.90 (75.88, 257.72) ng/L, 153.74 (89.50, 209.59) ng/L vs. 54.53 (26.30, 83.69) ng/L, respectively] (all P < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that disease duration, DAS28 and serum level of CXCL9 were correlated with bone erosion in the RA patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum levels of CXCL9 and CXCL10 were remarkably elevated in patients with RA, and correlated with disease activities and occurrence of bone erosion. Chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10 might be involved in the pathogenesis and bone destruction in RA.

Effects of alanyl-glutamine on intestinal adaptation and bacterial translocation in rats after 60% intestinal resection.

The effects of alanyl-glutamine dipeptide (Ala-Gln)-enriched parenteral nutrition on intestinal mucosa and gut barrier function were investigated. Wistar rats were studied. After moderate surgical stress was induced by 60% resection of the small intestine, the rats were randomized to three groups: the chow group was given standard rat chow; the PN group received standard parenteral nutrition (PN); and the Ala-Gln group received glutamine dipeptide-enriched parenteral nutrition (3% Ala-Gln). Rats were maintained on their respective diets for 8 days. The chow and Ala-Gln groups maintained serum glutamine concentrations, intestinal mucosal thickness and villus height. Bacterial translocation rates in the chow and Ala-Gln groups were 20%, which was significantly less than that in the PN group (70%, P < 0.05). The results indicated that Ala-Gln-enriched parenteral nutrition maintains intestinal adaptation and gut barrier function after massive intestinal resection and parenteral nutrition.

Effects of alanyl-glutamine on gut barrier function.

Traditional parenteral nutrition (PN) and chemotherapy may lead to changes of mucosal morphology and gut barrier function. This study investigated the effect of alanyl-glutamine (Ala-Gln) on intestinal morphology and gut barrier function in PN-fed rats challenged with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Male Wistar rats were centrally catheterized and then randomized to receive PN devoid of glutamine (control group; n = 10) or 3% Ala-Gln-supplemented PN (study group; n = 10) for 7 d. Intestinal permeability to lactulose and mannitol was measured before and 72 h post 5-FU administration on day 4. Serum glutamine concentration and jejunal mucosal structure were maintained in the study group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The bacterial translocation rates of mesenteric lymph nodes in the study group were significantly lower than the control (30% versus 90%; P < 0.05). No significant differences was found between the control and study groups with respect to ratio of lactulose and mannitol excreted in urine (L/M) (0.026 +/- 0.005575 versus 0.022 +/- 0.03079; P > 0.05) on day 3. On day 7, L/M was unaltered in the study group, whereas it increased in the control (0.042 +/- 0.004634 versus 0.029 +/- 0.002020; P < 0.05). We concluded that glutamine dipeptide maintained intestinal mucosal morphology and barrier function in PN-fed rats challenged with 5-FU.

A comparison of changes seen on radiographs of rheumatoid arthritis patients in Australia and in China.

To test the hypothesis that rheumatoid arthritis in patients in China is milder in severity than that in patients in a western country, a comparison was made of 2 series of consecutive outpatients with definite or classic rheumatoid arthritis who were attending referral centers in Melbourne, Australia and Shanghai, China. This paper reports the findings on radiographs of the wrists and hands. Making allowances for age and duration of disease, changes were more frequent and severe in the Australian patient series, particularly at the metacarpophalangeal joints.