An Elevated mRNA Combined with Lower mRNA Level in Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Peripheral Blood.

We aimed to investigate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes , , , , and immunoregulatory genes , , and in the peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) level. The total RNA was isolated from peripheral blood samples. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to perform TaqMan-based assays to quantify mRNAs from 8 target genes. was upregulated (1.7-fold), whereas (5-fold), (4-fold), and (2.56-fold) were downregulated in patients compared to controls. In addition, we found a strong positive correlation between the expression of and and a moderate correlation between and These data showed the imbalance of the T helper (Th) 1/Th17/ T regulatory (Treg) axis at a systemic level in RA. In cases with active disease, the gene expression was approximately 2-fold higher; in contrast, the expression of was significantly decreased (3.38-fold). The main part of patients with higher disease activity expressed upregulation of and downregulation of . Different disease activity cohorts could be separated based on , and expression combinations. In conclusion, our results showed that active disease is associated with an elevated and lower mRNA level in peripheral blood cells of RA patients.