Association of Tumor Necrosis Like factor 1 A (TL1A) and its Decoy Receptor (DcR3) with The Disease Activity and Autoantibody Production in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

Different cytokines play roles in the pathogenesis and tissue damage of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) including, Tumor necrosis factor superfamily (TNFSF) and their receptors particularly TNF-like ligand 1A (TL1A), and its decoy receptor DcR3. This study included 150 subjects, of them 50 patients having Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), 50 patients with Osteoarthritis (OA), and 50 normal controls. Clinical examination was done and data was collected from patient's sheets, routine laboratory investigations included, rheumatoid factor (RF) antibody, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Disease activity score 28 was calculated and used to measure the activity of RA. Serum and synovial fluid (SF) TL1A and DcR3 levels were measured by (ELISA), while IL-17 was measured in supernatant fluid of PBMC culture after stimulation with recombinant human (rh) TL1A. Results showed significantly higher levels of TL1A and its decoy receptor DcR3 in RA patients than the other two groups. It was also found that TL1A is significantly related to the disease activity and enhances IL-17 production after stimulation of PBMC. These results can guide scientists to the future substitutions in the way of treatment of various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.