Experimental data suggest that fibrates have anti-inflammatory properties, and PPAR alpha is essential for the differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) which diminished pool in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) contributes to accelerated atherosclerosis. The data on fibrates’ effects in patients with RA are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate changes
in disease activity, inflammatory markers, lipid VS-4718 in vitro profile, and circulating EPC in active RA patients treated with fenofibrate. Twenty-seven patients with active RA taking traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were prescribed fenofibrate (145 mg/day) for 3 months. All patients received background traditional DMARDs in stable doses. The outcomes measured were clinical disease activity variables, circulating cytokines, adipokines, lipids, and EPC. Twenty-five patients completed the Selleck CP673451 study. At the end of treatment, there was a significant reduction in DAS28, all individual DAS28 components except tender joint count, the duration of morning stiffness, and in the patient’s assessment of disease activity. Fifteen (60 %) patients achieved good/moderate EULAR response, while 10 (40 %) patients satisfied ACR20 response criteria. Treatment with fenofibrate resulted in significant decrease in CRP and IL-6 concentrations and improvement in lipid profile. There was no change in
the concentrations of circulating EPC. In conclusion, fenofibrate treatment is associated with reduced inflammation and improved lipid profile in RA patients. Large randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm these results and to define the role of fibrates in the treatment for RA.”
“The aim of this study was to investigate the percentage
of regulatory T cells and the correlation Loperamide with clinical activity in Beh double dagger et’s disease. Forty Beh double dagger et’s disease (BD) patients, 18 males and 22 females, were included in the study. The patients were diagnosed according to the published BD criteria. Twenty age- and sex-matched volunteer healthy donors were also included. At the time of sampling, clinical activity was assessed for activity signs and symptoms according to the BD Current Activity Form. We considered active those patients with a clinical activity index equal to and/or above 2. Eleven patients had active disease and the remaining were considered as clinically inactive. We have studied the percentages of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+, CD4+CD25+ and CD4+FOXP3+regulatory T cells by flow cytometry and investigated the correlation with disease activity. Percentage of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Treg in active patients was lower than clinically inactive patients and healthy controls. Percentage of CD4+CD25+Treg was not different between active and inactive patients and healthy controls.