Reducing cardiovascular risk with immunomodulators: a randomised active comparator trial among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Recent large-scale randomised trials demonstrate that immunomodulators reduce cardiovascular (CV) events among the general population. However, it is uncertain whether these effects apply to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and if certain treatment strategies in RA reduce CV risk to a greater extent. METHODS: Patients with active RA despite use of methotrexate were randomly assigned to addition of a tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor (TNFi) or addition of sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine (triple therapy) for 24 weeks. Baseline and follow-up 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/CT scans were assessed for change in arterial inflammation, an index of CV risk, measured as an arterial target-to-background ratio (TBR) in the carotid arteries and aorta. RESULTS: 115 patients completed the protocol. The two treatment groups were well balanced with a median age of 58 years, 71% women, 57% seropositive and a baseline disease activity score in 28 joints of 4.8 (IQR 4.0, 5.6). Baseline TBR was similar across the two groups. Significant TBR reductions were observed in both groups-ΔTNFi: -0.24 (SD=0.51), Δtriple therapy: -0.19 (SD=0.51)-without difference between groups (difference in Δs: -0.02, 95% CI -0.19 to 0.15, p=0.79). While disease activity was significantly reduced across both treatment groups, there was no association with change in TBR (ß=0.04, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.10). CONCLUSION: We found that addition of either a TNFi or triple therapy resulted in clinically important improvements in vascular inflammation. However, the addition of a TNFi did not reduce arterial inflammation more than triple therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02374021.

FDG PET/CT for evaluating systemic arterial inflammation induced by anthracycline-based chemotherapy of Hodgkin lymphoma: A retrospective cohort study.

To evaluate arterial fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake as a marker of arterial inflammation in multiple vascular beds in patients treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).We used maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and target-to-background ratio (TBR) to quantify arterial FDG uptake in the carotid artery, ascending aorta, abdominal aorta, and femoral artery obtained on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging performed at baseline before chemotherapy and after completion of chemotherapy in patients with HL treated with an anthracycline-containing regimen. We compared the SUVmax and TBR obtained at baseline with that obtained post-chemotherapy for each arterial bed to evaluate the effect of anthracycline-based chemotherapy. We evaluated the effect of cardiovascular risk factors such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, smoking, hypertension, and diabetes on the changes in SUVmax and TBR seen in the different arterial beds after anthracycline-based chemotherapy.Fifty-two patients were included with a mean age of 34.56 ±â€Š10.19 years. There were 33 males, and 18 patients were HIV-infected. The mean interval between completion of chemotherapy and follow-up flourine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) scan was 65 weeks. We found no significant difference in arterial FDG uptake measured by SUVmax and TBR in all arterial beds between the pre- and post-chemotherapy FDG PET/CT. There was no significant impact of HIV infection, smoking, and hypertension on the changes in arterial FDG uptake following treatment with anthracycline-based chemotherapy.In patients with HL who were treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy, we found no significant increase in arterial inflammation measured by FDG PET/CT after an average follow-up period of about 65 weeks since completion of chemotherapy.

[A Case of Arteritis That Developed after Pegfilgrastim Administration during Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer].

A 61-year-old woman presented with metastatic breast cancer in her right lung 4 years and 11 months after the operation for her right breast cancer(HER2 enriched type). Chemotherapy(pertuzumab plus trastuzumab plus docetaxel)were ad- ministered. On day 2 of cycle 2, pegfilgrastim was administered because her neutrophils decreased to 54 cells/mL on day 8 of cycle 1. On day 9 of cycle 2, she developed left neck and chest pain. Moreover, she developed a fever of 39°C on day 14 and visited our hospital. Her WBC and CRP increased to 18,300 cells/mL and 25.48mg/dL, respectively. Computed tomography revealed an increased CT value of the panniculus, around the aorta and left pleural effusion. Ultrasonography of the neck showed a marginal hypoechoic area around the left carotid artery, which corresponded with the pain. Arteritis induced by PFG was suspected. The neck pain and fever almost completely improved 19 days later, and cycle 3 was performed 28 days after cycle 2. To our knowledge, the present case is the second report of arteritis that was suspected to be associated with PFG.

Lymphocytic Thrombophilic Arteritis: A Possible Association with Minocycline.

We describe a case of lymphocytic thrombophilic arteritis in a 15-year-old girl who had previously taken minocycline for a year. Cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa and lymphocytic thrombophilic arteritis share many features and may both be triggered by minocycline. There may be a long latency between drug exposure to minocycline and development of disease.

Cannabis arteritis: ever more important to consider.

Cannabis arteritis (CA) is a major and underdiagnosed cause of peripheral arterial disease in young patients. A 34-year-old man, daily smoker of 20 cigarettes and two cannabis cigarettes for 14 years, presented with a necrotic plaque of left hallux for 3 weeks. The Doppler ultrasound and angiography were compatible with severe Buerger's disease. Submitted to a revascularisation procedure and hypocoagulation with rivaroxaban. He had ceased smoking but maintained consumption of cannabis. Owing to the persistence of distal necrosis, amputation of the hallux was performed with good evolution. CA is a subtype of Buerger's disease. It is poorly known but increasingly prevalent and manifests in cannabis users regardless of tobacco use. The drug is considered at least a cofactor of the arteriopathy. The most effective treatment is cessation of consumption. Being cannabis one of the most consumed drugs, its mandatory to ask about its use in all young patients with arteriopathy.

Crucial Role of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) in Indoxyl Sulfate-Induced Vascular Inflammation.

AIM: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-inducible transcription factor mediating toxic effects of dioxins and uremic toxins, has recently emerged as a pathophysiological regulator of immune-inflammatory conditions. Indoxyl sulfate, a uremic toxin, is associated with cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease and has been shown to be a ligand for AhR. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of AhR in indoxyl sulfate-induced leukocyte-endothelial interactions. METHODS: Endothelial cell-specific AhR knockout (eAhR KO) mice were produced by crossing AhR floxed mice with Tie2 Cre mice. Indoxyl sulfate was administered for 2 weeks, followed by injection of TNF-α. Leukocyte recruitment to the femoral artery was assessed by intravital microscopy. Vascular endothelial cells were transfected with siRNA specific to AhR (siAhR) and treated with indoxyl sulfate, followed by stimulation with TNF-α. RESULTS: Indoxyl sulfate dramatically enhanced TNF-α-induced leukocyte recruitment to the vascular wall in control animals but not in eAhR KO mice. In endothelial cells, siAhR significantly reduced indoxyl sulfate-enhanced leukocyte adhesion as well as E-selectin expression, whereas the activation of JNK and nuclear factor-κB was not affected. A luciferase assay revealed that the region between －153 and －146 bps in the E-selectin promoter was responsible for indoxyl sulfate activity via AhR. Mutational analysis of this region revealed that activator protein-1 (AP-1) is responsible for indoxyl sulfate-triggered E-selectin expression via AhR. CONCLUSION: AhR mediates indoxyl sulfate-enhanced leukocyte-endothelial interactions through AP-1 transcriptional activity, which may constitute a new mechanism of vascular inflammation in patients with renal disease.

Carotid artery inflammation associated with gemcitabine-based therapy: a special report.

Vasculitis is an inflammation that can present as acute or chronic in nature, which causes changes in the walls of blood vessels, including thickening, weakening, narrowing and scarring. Gemcitabine, an antimetabolite chemotherapeutic agent, is generally well tolerated with a favorable side effect profile. However, there is increasing evidence that it is associated with vasculitis, which can affect small and large vessels. In this case report, we report a patient who has experienced fever with severe tenderness over right carotid artery, which occurred on the fifth day after the administration of gemcitabine. The exact mechanism of gemcitabine-induced vasculitis is unknown but cessation of gemcitabine and initiation of anti-inflammatory treatment appears to aid in the resolution of the clinical syndrome.

Identification of Pathogenic Cardiac CD11c+ Macrophages in Nod1-Mediated Acute Coronary Arteritis.

OBJECTIVE: Nod1 is an intracellular pattern recognition receptor for bacterial peptidoglycan fragments. We previously reported that a synthetic Nod1 ligand, FK565, induced acute coronary arteritis in mice similar to that of Kawasaki disease. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this characteristic inflammation have remained elusive. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We found that CD11c(+)MHC class II(+) cells accumulated in the heart of FK565-treated mice before arteritis development. Morphological features and gene expression signatures of the cardiac CD11c(+)MHC class II(+) cells suggested that this population is closely related to macrophages, and thus, we designated them cardiac CD11c(+) macrophages. Nod1 in nonhematopoietic cells, rather than hematopoietic cells, was required for the increase of cardiac CD11c(+) macrophages and arteritis development. Among nonhematopoietic cells, cardiac endothelial cells produced a large amount of chemokines in response to FK565. Endothelial cell-specific blockade of Nod1 signaling suppressed FK565-induced expression of these chemokines, accumulation of cardiac CD11c(+) macrophages, and subsequent coronary arteritis development. We also found that CCR2(+)Ly6C(hi) inflammatory monocytes in peripheral blood supplied precursors of cardiac CD11c(+) macrophages. CCR2-deficient mice or pertussis toxin-treated mice exhibited decreased numbers of cardiac CD11c(+) macrophages and reduced arteritis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that Ly6C(hi) monocytes are recruited to FK565-activated endothelial cells to generate cardiac CD11c(+) macrophages, which play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of acute coronary arteritis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor-a in lactobacillus casei cell wall extract-induced coronary arteritis of a murine model.

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is associated with Kawasaki disease (KD), the most commonly acquired heart disease in developed countries. This study investigated the involvement of VEGF-A expression and its related signaling pathway in Lactobacillus casei cell wall extract (LCWE)-induced murine coronary artery lesions (CALs), and analyzed this in regard to the inhibition of CALs by spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk). METHODS AND RESULTS: Wild-type BALB/C mice were intraperitoneally injected with LCWE (1mg/ml) to induce CALs. The aortic roots, ventricular myocardium, peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs), spleen, liver, kidneys, and lungs were analyzed for VEGF-A expression. Phosphate buffered saline (PBS)-, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-, and zymosan-treated mice served as controls, and an oral Syk inhibitor served as an arteritis-ameliorated reagent. In aortic roots and PBLs, LCWE induced an early upregulation and a late downregulation of VEGF-A expression. No differential VEGF-A expression was observed in the other organs. Most importantly, Syk inhibition significantly attenuated the LCWE-induced expression of VEGF-A, dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH)-1, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase in aortic roots. However, LCWE-induced aortic DDAH-2 expression remained higher, despite Syk inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: Local VEGF-A and its signaling pathway are associated with the development of LCWE-induced CALs. Therefore, the clinical correlation between VEGF and human KD and the role of the VEGF-A regulation and signaling pathway in murine CALs warrant further investigation.

The role of TNF-α in a murine model of Kawasaki disease arteritis induced with a Candida albicans cell wall polysaccharide.

OBJECTIVES: Various inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), have been reported to play roles in Kawasaki disease (KD). Recently, anti-TNF-α therapy was reported to show efficacy in patients who do not respond to high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. However, there are many gaps in our understanding of the role that TNF-α plays in the development of KD arteritis as well as whether anti-TNF-α therapy causes any histological changes in the arteritis. Accordingly, the present histopathological study was carried out to elucidate the inhibitory effect of anti-TNF-α therapy on vasculitis as well as the role of TNF-α in the development of vasculitis in a murine model of KD vasculitis. METHODS: We used two anti-TNF-α drugs (etanercept and infliximab) to treat a Candida albicans-induced murine model of KD vasculitis. We investigated the histopathological changes in terms of the incidence of vasculitis, the scope of lesions and the degree of inflammation. RESULTS: Administration of etanercept to the mice reduced not only the incidence of vasculitis but also the scope of lesions and the degree of inflammation. CONCLUSION: Based on the histological findings, TNF-α is deeply involved in the development of vasculitis.

ß-mannosyl linkages inhibit CAWS arteritis by negatively regulating dectin-2-dependent signaling in spleen and dendritic cells.

AIMS: CAWS, Candida albicans water-soluble fraction, is an extracellular mannoprotein produced by C. albicans NBRC1385. It is a ligand of dectin-2, the C-type lectin receptor for innate immunity, and has strong potency for induction of vasculitis in DBA/2 mice. The structure of this mannoprotein is known to be modulated by the culture conditions. To clarify the structure required for vasculitis, CAWSs were prepared in the two culture conditions with or without pH control, and biological properties were compared. METHODS: CAWSs prepared by the standard protocol and pH controlled at 7.0 were designated as CAWS and CAWS727, respectively. The antigenicity was detected by the anti-Candida mannan IgG. These chemical structures were assessed by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis and the lectin array system. The in vitro activity of CAWSs was tested by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induction using bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and spleen cell cultures. RESULTS: The antigenicity of CAWS727 was similar to CAWS but the nuclear magnetic resonance analysis showed a higher ratio of ß-mannosyl linkages were detected in CAWS727. The lectin array showed relative affinities of CAWS727 to α-mannosyl specific lectins were weaker than those of CAWS. CAWS induced severe vasculitis in DBA/2 mice while CAWS727 did not. CAWS significantly induced TNF-α but CAWS727 did slightly. In addition, CAWS-induced TNF-α production was inhibited by mixing with CAWS727 in a concentration dependent manner. CONCLUSION: The α-mannosyl linkages of Candida mannan is a key molecule for the immunotoxicity. CAWS727, which conatins ß-mannosyl linkages, competitively bound to lectin receptors, and resulted in reductions in the inflammatory response.

[Risking the skin for some joints]. / Risquer sa peau pour quelques ((joints)).

Marijuana, cannabis, hemp designate some plants and their extracts enriched in cannabinoids including change 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This soft drug exerts psychoactive effects and is responsible for adverse events appearing on the skin, mucosae and eyes. Contact allergic urticaria possibly occurs as well as Raynaud's phenomenon and arteritis resembling Buerger's disease. Glossitis and atrophic stomatitis may be associated with paronditis and uvular angioedema.

Antibiotic-associated eosinophilic and occlusive arteritis in calves complicating preclinical studies of left ventricular assist devices.

Repeated bolus intravenous (IV) administration of large doses of beta-lactams and aminoglycosides has previously been associated with the development of eosinophilic and occlusive arterial lesions limited to the lungs in calves. Reviewing 13 years worth of records from left ventricular assist device implantation studies, morphologically identical segmental arterial lesions were present in 32 of the 56 calves receiving IV antibiotics, affecting lungs (6/50), kidneys (12/56), or lungs and kidneys (14/50). In 16 of these calves, renal arterial lesions spatially colocalized with renal cortical infarctions. Lesions were noted in additional abdominal organs in 4 of the 50 calves and were exclusively present in the liver in a single calf. Similar arterial lesions were also noted in the lungs (3/4), kidneys (1/4), liver (1/4), and spleen (1/4) of unimplanted calves receiving similar IV antibiotic regimens for bacterial infections. Lesions were observed with therapeutic IV doses of cephalosporins with or without aminoglycosides over shorter intervals than previously implicated. Lesions were significantly associated with increased peripheral eosinophil counts and mildly elevated, not reduced, arterial pulse pressures. This report documents the features of an idiosyncratic drug reaction with features strongly suggestive of an acute type-I hypersensitivity in this species.

Coronary and systemic arterial physiology and immunohistochemical markers related to early coronary arterial lesions in beagle dogs given the potassium channel opener, ZD6169, or the endothelin receptor antagonist, ZD1611.

We evaluated immunohistochemistry (von Willebrand Factor [vWF] or fibrinogen) and systemic and coronary arterial physiological parameters in beagle dogs to investigate early arterial lesions induced by the potassium channel opener, ZD6169, or the endothelin receptor antagonist, ZD1611. Dogs given an oral dose of ZD6169 (experiment 1) were terminated 1 day later and showed arterial and myocardial lesions. Minimal arterial lesions exhibited few condensed medial smooth muscle cells only, with others showing segmental medial necrosis occasionally with medial/adventitial acute inflammation. Intercellular immunostaining was seen in ostensibly normal tissue, where no pathology was present in conventionally stained sections. vWF and fibrinogen are valuable tools for detecting disruption of arterial integrity. In experiment 2, 2 dogs were given a single high dose of ZD6169 or ZD1611 and BP/HR monitored by conventional measures or telemetry. Substantially reduced systolic/diastolic BP and increased HR occurred within 10 min of ZD6169 infusion: ZD1611 caused minor BP decrease and HR increase. In experiment 3, both drugs given to anaesthetized dogs induced markedly exaggerated systolic phasic forward and reverse flow in left descending and right coronary arteries. Diastolic coronary artery flows were unaffected with ZD1611 and increased slightly with ZD6169. In both coronary arteries, the ZD1611-induced increase in flows paralleled decreased resistance.