Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, People's Republic of China.
Department of Rheumatology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, No. 136 Jingzhou Street, Xiangyang, 441021, People's Republic of China.
Ir J Med Sci. 2022 Oct;191(5):2155-2161. doi: 10.1007/s11845-021-02858-y. Epub 2021 Dec 2.
Cell division control protein 42 (CDC42) is reported to be involved in multiple inflammation processes by regulating T cell differentiation, maintaining immune cell homeostasis, and altering their function, while no relevant studies explored its clinical role in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, this study aimed to explore the correlation of CDC42 with Th1 and Th17 cells and its association with disease risk, activity, and treatment outcomes of RA.
After the enrollment of 95 active RA patients and 50 healthy subjects (HC), their CDC42, Th1 cells, and Th17 cells were assayed by RT-qPCR and flow cytometry, accordingly. For RA patients only, CDC42 was also detected at W6, and W12 after treatment. The treatment response and remission status were evaluated at W12.
Compared to HC, CDC42 was reduced (P < 0.001), while Th1 cells (P = 0.021) and Th17 cells (P < 0.001) were increased in RA patients. Besides, CDC42 was negatively correlated with Th17 cells (P < 0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (P = 0.012), C-reactive protein (P = 0.002), and disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) (P = 0.007), but did not relate to Th1 cells or other disease features (all P > 0.05) in RA patients. Furthermore, CDC42 was elevated during treatment in RA patients (P < 0.001). Moreover, CDC42 increment at W12 correlated with treatment response (P = 0.004). Besides, CDC42 elevation at W0 (P = 0.038), W6 (P = 0.001), and W12 (P < 0.001) also linked with treatment remission.
CDC42 has the potential to serve as a biomarker to monitor disease activity and treatment efficacy in patients with RA.
细胞分裂调控蛋白 42（CDC42）据报道通过调节 T 细胞分化、维持免疫细胞稳态和改变其功能参与多种炎症过程，而没有相关研究探讨其在类风湿关节炎（RA）患者中的临床作用。因此，本研究旨在探讨 CDC42 与 Th1 和 Th17 细胞的相关性及其与 RA 疾病风险、活动和治疗结果的关系。
纳入 95 例活动期 RA 患者和 50 例健康对照（HC）后，采用 RT-qPCR 和流式细胞术分别检测其 CDC42、Th1 细胞和 Th17 细胞。仅对 RA 患者，还在治疗后第 6 周（W6）和第 12 周（W12）检测 CDC42。在第 12 周评估治疗反应和缓解状态。
与 HC 相比，RA 患者的 CDC42 降低（P<0.001），Th1 细胞（P=0.021）和 Th17 细胞（P<0.001）升高。此外，CDC42 与 Th17 细胞呈负相关（P<0.001），与红细胞沉降率（ESR）（P=0.012）、C 反应蛋白（P=0.002）和 28 关节疾病活动度评分（DAS28）（P=0.007）呈负相关，但与 RA 患者的 Th1 细胞或其他疾病特征无关（均 P>0.05）。此外，RA 患者在治疗过程中 CDC42 升高（P<0.001）。而且，W12 时 CDC42 的增加与治疗反应相关（P=0.004）。此外，W0（P=0.038）、W6（P=0.001）和 W12（P<0.001）时 CDC42 的升高也与治疗缓解相关。
CDC42 有可能成为监测 RA 患者疾病活动度和治疗效果的生物标志物。
