Faculty Collaboration Database

Gene expression profiling of peripheral blood from patients with untreated new-onset systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis reveals molecular heterogeneity that may predict macrophage activation syndrome. Arthritis Rheum 2007 Nov;56(11):3793-804

Date

10/31/2007

Pubmed ID

17968951

DOI

10.1002/art.22981

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-36049020585 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   200 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is frequently associated with the development of macrophage activation syndrome. This study was undertaken to better understand the relationship between systemic JIA and macrophage activation syndrome.

METHODS: Gene expression profiles were examined in 17 patients with untreated new-onset systemic JIA, 5 of whom showed evidence of subclinical macrophage activation syndrome (of whom 2 eventually developed overt macrophage activation syndrome). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were separated on Ficoll gradients, and purified RNA was analyzed using Affymetrix GeneChip expression arrays. A fraction of the PBMCs were used for flow cytometry to define the cellular composition of the samples.

RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-five differentially expressed genes (P < 0.05) that distinguished patients with systemic JIA from healthy controls (n = 30) were identified. Clustering analysis indicated that expression patterns correlated with serum ferritin levels. Three main clusters distinguished systemic JIA patients with highly elevated ferritin levels (including those with subclinical macrophage activation syndrome) from those with normal or only moderately elevated ferritin levels. The first cluster comprised genes involved in the synthesis of hemoglobins and structural proteins of erythrocytes. This transcriptional profile was consistent with immature nucleated red blood cells, likely reflective of high red blood cell turnover. Also included were transcripts indicating immature granulocytes. The second cluster was enriched for genes involved in cell cycle regulation. The third cluster was enriched for genes involved in innate immune responses, including those involved in the negative regulation of Toll-like receptor/interleukin-1 receptor-triggered inflammatory cascades and markers of the alternative pathway of macrophage differentiation. Additional differentially expressed genes of interest were those involved in the cytolytic pathway, including SH2D1A and Rab27a.

CONCLUSION: These data indicate that gene expression profiling can be a useful tool for identifying early macrophage activation syndrome in patients with systemic JIA.

Author List

Fall N, Barnes M, Thornton S, Luyrink L, Olson J, Ilowite NT, Gottlieb BS, Griffin T, Sherry DD, Thompson S, Glass DN, Colbert RA, Grom AA

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Arthritis, Juvenile
Child
Child, Preschool
Cluster Analysis
Erythropoiesis
Female
Ferritins
Gene Expression Profiling
Genetic Heterogeneity
Haptoglobins
Humans
Immunophenotyping
Macrophages
Male
Phenotype
Predictive Value of Tests