Browse

Search for: rheumatoid arthritis    methotrexate    autoimmune disease    biomarker    gene expression    GWAS    HLA genes    non-HLA genes   

ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
26511366 [Intra-articular injection of cortisone]. 2015 Nov Intra-articular injections with glucocorticoids are standard procedures according to therapy guidelines in many rheumatic conditions. There is increasing evidence from clinical trials on the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis that more patients will attain the target of remission using a combination of systemic medication and intra-articular injections with glucocorticoids compared to systemic medication alone. Intra-articular injections with glucocorticoids play an important role in the therapeutic management of pediatric rheumatic diseases. In many countries competency in performing intra-articular injections is among the important skills necessary for certification as a specialist in rheumatology.
27181794 Anti-rheumatic activity of Ananas comosus fruit peel extract in a complete Freund's adjuva 2016 Nov CONTEXT: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, autoimmune and systemic inflammatory disease, which targets synovial joints leading to joint destruction mediated in part by migration of inflammatory cells into the synovial tissue. OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluates the anti-rheumatic effect of a methanol extract of Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. (Bromeliaceae) peel in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anti-rheumatic activity of crude extract of peels of A. comosus in complete Freund's induced arthritis model in rats was studied at doses of 50, 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w. for 21 days. Parameters such as paw size, levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), C-reactive proteins (CRP) and prostaglandins (PGE(2)) were analysed. RESULTS: Oral administration of the extract significantly reduced the swelling in the paw of rats (EC(50) 65.1 ± 2.95 mg/kg b.w.) with a maximal inhibition of 77.01 ± 10.53% on 21st day at 500 mg/kg b.w. The extract also significantly reduced the levels of SOD, CAT and GPx in liver (EC(50) 26.84 ± 16.37, 68.37 ± 19.22, 106.54 ± 34.81 mg/kg b.w., respectively), kidney (EC(50) 261.75 ± 81.5, 176.38 ± 8.08, 14.32 ± 6.64, mg/kg b.w., respectively) and spleen (EC(50) 152.14 ± 39.57, 83.97 ± 14.6, 47.1 ± 10.45 mg/kg b.w., respectively); and CRP (EC(50) 36.37 ± 12.4 mg/kg b.w.) and PGE(2) (EC(50) 191.06 ± 71.54 mg/kg b.w.) in tissue homogenate and serum, respectively, at 500 mg/kg b.w. as compared to arthritic control group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These results suggest that A. comosus fruit peel extract exerts anti-rheumatic activity.
27785888 2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism Classification Cr 2017 Jan OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate an international set of classification criteria for primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) using guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR). These criteria were developed for use in individuals with signs and/or symptoms suggestive of SS. METHODS: We assigned preliminary importance weights to a consensus list of candidate criteria items, using multi-criteria decision analysis. We tested and adapted the resulting draft criteria using existing cohort data on primary SS cases and non-SS controls, with case/non-case status derived from expert clinical judgment. We then validated the performance of the classification criteria in a separate cohort of patients. RESULTS: The final classification criteria are based on the weighted sum of 5 items: anti-SSA/Ro antibody positivity and focal lymphocytic sialadenitis with a focus score of ≥1 foci/4 mm(2) , each scoring 3; an abnormal ocular staining score of ≥5 (or van Bijsterveld score of ≥4), a Schirmer's test result of ≤5 mm/5 minutes, and an unstimulated salivary flow rate of ≤0.1 ml/minute, each scoring 1. Individuals with signs and/or symptoms suggestive of SS who have a total score of ≥4 for the above items meet the criteria for primary SS. Sensitivity and specificity against clinician-expert-derived case/non-case status in the final validation cohort were high, i.e., 96% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 92-98%) and 95% (95% CI 92-97%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Using methodology consistent with other recent ACR/EULAR-approved classification criteria, we developed a single set of data-driven consensus classification criteria for primary SS, which performed well in validation analyses and are well-suited as criteria for enrollment in clinical trials.
27061842 Illness Experiences in Women with Oral Dryness as a Result of Sjögren's Syndrome: The Pat 2016 Dec BACKGROUND: Sjögren's syndrome and the associated dryness can have multiple consequences. The aim of the present qualitative study was to give an in-depth account of the life experiences of women with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and health-related behaviours, and to summarize these experiences in an integrated model. METHODS: Twelve women diagnosed with pSS who regularly attended the Hospital of the University of Chile participated in detailed interviews. The data were analysed using qualitative methods based on the principles of grounded theory. RESULTS: Selective coding identified three categories: illness experience, social interaction and psychological response. An integrated model was developed connecting these dynamic aspects and suggesting how they could lead to a life cycle crisis in cases of maladjustment. We found that problem-solving strategies, reconstruction of identity, acceptance and a social support may prevent this life cycle crisis. DISCUSSION: Xerostomia and other consequences of pSS can have a profound influence on daily life. However, the severity of the consequences depends on individual experiences with the illness, social influences and the psychological responses of the patient. Physicians, dentists and other healthcare professionals can help the patient by listening to their problems and exploring solutions based on a psychological approach.
27981819 Successful treatment of refractory adult onset Still's disease with rituximab. 2016 Dec 16 Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is an uncommon inflammatory condition of unknown origin. In chronic disease, joint involvement is often predominant and erosions are noted in one third of patients. Therapeutic strategies derive from observational data. Corticosteroids are usually the first-line treatment. With inadequate response to corticosteroids, methotrexate appears the best choice to control disease activity and allow for tapering of steroid use. For refractory disease, biological therapy seems the most promising. We report here the case of a 38-year-old female patient with AOSD refractory to cytotoxic agents, treated by rituximab infusion therapy with favorable outcome.
27858858 Optic neuritis as an initial presentation of primary Sjögren syndrome: A case report and 2016 Nov BACKGROUND: Primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) is a progressive autoimmune disease that primarily affects exocrine glands. The clinical presentation of pSS may vary from an asymptomatic condition to severe skin symptom, resulting in a difficult and challenging diagnosis and treatment. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here, we report a 47-year-old Chinese woman who lost vision in the right eye for 7 days. She had been misdiagnosed with primary optic neuritis for 3 months. After 3 months, the results of immunohistochemistry, salivary gland scintigraphy, and antibody tests proved the diagnosis of pSS. After an IV methylprednisolone treatment for 3 days (1.0 g/d), her final visual and perimetry outcome were satisfactory. A review of the relevant English literature based on PubMed encompassing dates up to July 2016 has been discussed. CONCLUSION: Our finding and the literature review suggest that an early treatment may be beneficial but long-term disease may cause permanent irreparable damage.
26032727 Discovery of benzylidene derivatives as potent Syk inhibitors: synthesis, SAR analysis, an 2015 Jul Four scaffolds of varied benzylidene derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as Syk inhibitors for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Among these 31 compounds, 3-benzylidene pyrrolidine-2,5-dione derivatives (including 12k) universally showed good Syk inhibitory activities in the low micromolar to submicromolar range. In the cellular profiling, compound 12k, the most efficient compound, showed excellent antiproliferative activity against fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS)-RA, and demonstrated potencies for suppression of IL-6 and MMP-3 secretion almost equal to R406 (positive control). The oral efficacy of 12k in the murine collagen-induced arthritis model was significant, despite being weaker than R406. Taken together, all preliminary pharmacological results supported 12k as a potential small-molecule inhibitor targeting Syk for the treatment of RA.
27087201 Humira: the impending patent battles over adalimumab biosimilars. 2016 May The world's top selling drug, adalimumab (AbbVie's Humira), generated sales in excess of US$13 billion in 2015. The primary product patent expires in 2016 in the USA and 2018 in Europe. This has resulted in a rush by companies to develop adalimumab biosimilars and Amgen submitted regulatory filings for its product ABP-501 in late 2015 in both the USA and Europe. AbbVie has claimed its patent portfolio provides product protection until 2022, but an increasing number of patent challenges are being made and the filings for approval of biosimilars will see more challenges made over the next few years.
26335699 Autoimmunity in 2014. 2015 Oct Our PubMed search for peer-reviewed articles published in the 2014 solar year retrieved a significantly higher number of hits compared to 2013 with a net 28 % increase. Importantly, full articles related to autoimmunity constitute approximately 5 % of immunology articles. We confirm that our understanding of autoimmunity is becoming a translational paradigm with pathogenetic elements rapidly followed by new treatment options. Furthermore, numerous clinical and pathogenetic elements and features are shared among autoimmune diseases, and this is well illustrated in the recent literature. More specifically, the past year witnessed critical revisions of our understanding and management of antiphospholipid syndrome with new exciting data on the pathogenicity of the serum anti-beta2 glycoprotein autoantibody, a better understanding of the current and new treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, and new position papers on important clinical questions such as vaccinations in patients with autoimmune disease, comorbidities, or new classification criteria. Furthermore, data confirming the important connections between innate immunity and autoimmunity via toll-like receptors or the critical role of T regulatory cells in tolerance breakdown and autoimmunity perpetuation were also reported. Lastly, genetic and epigenetic data were provided to confirm that the mosaic of autoimmunity warrants a susceptible individual background which may be geographically determined and contribute to the geoepidemiology of diseases. The 2014 literature in the autoimmunity world should be cumulatively regarded as part of an annus mirabilis in which, on a different level, the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in Boston was attended by over 16,000 participants with over selected 3000 abstracts.
27030257 Weight bearing joints destruction in rheumatoid arthritis. 2016 Mar 31 In many cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) joints of the upper extremities are affected. However, involvement of weight bearing joints of the lower extremities is strongly associated with a decreased activities of daily living ability such as gait disorder. Once the progression of weight bearing joint destruction occurs, lower extremity function will decrease even if RA disease activity is improved by pharmacotherapy. In this article, we investigated joint destruction-suppressing effects of pharmacotherapy on the hip and knee joints, as well as risk factors for joint destruction. We also discuss surgical treatment strategies and clinical outcomes for progressive joint destruction.
26240772 Ultrasound in Rheumatologic Interstitial Lung Disease: A Case Report of Nonspecific Inters 2015 According to the American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society consensus classification, idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) include several clinic-radiologic-pathologic entities: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, acute interstitial pneumonia, respiratory bronchiolitis-associated ILD, desquamative interstitial pneumonia, and lymphoid interstitial pneumonia. Ultrasound Lung Comets (ULCs) are an echographic chest-sonography hallmark of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis. We describe the ultrasound (US) findings in the follow-up of a NSIP's case in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
27240953 Anti-arthritic actions of β-cryptoxanthin against the degradation of articular cartilage 2016 Aug 5 An inverse correlation between the morbidity of rheumatoid arthritis and daily intake of β-cryptoxanthin has been epidemiologically shown. In this study, we investigated the effects of β-cryptoxanthin on the metabolism of cartilage extracellular matrix in vivo and in vitro. Oral administration of β-cryptoxanthin (0.1-1 mg/kg) to antigen-induced arthritic rats suppressed the loss of glycosaminoglycans in articular cartilage, which is accompanied by the interference of aggrecanase-mediated degradation of aggrecan. Inhibition of the interleukin 1α (IL-1α)-induced aggrecan degradation by β-cryptoxanthin was also observed with porcine articular cartilage explants in culture. β-Cryptoxanthin (1-10 μM) dose-dependently down-regulated the IL-1α-induced gene expression of aggrecanase 1 (ADAMTS-4) and aggrecanase 2 (ADAMTS-5) in cultured human chondrocytes. Moreover, β-cryptoxanthin was found to augment the gene expression of aggrecan core protein in chondrocytes. These results provide novel evidence that β-cryptoxanthin exerts anti-arthritic actions and suggest that β-cryptoxanthin may be useful in blocking the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
27077058 ASSESMENT OF ARTHROSCOPIC ELBOW SYNOVECTOMY OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS 2009 Jan OBJECTIVE: To review functional outcomes of arthroscopic elbow synovectomy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Between May 1999 and December 2005, 15 patients were submitted to elbow synovectomy using an arthroscopic approach. Three cases were bilateral, totaling 18 elbows. There were two male and 13 female patients. The mean age was 44 years and five months. The mean time of previous diagnosis was six years and eight months. All patients reported preoperative pain, and on seven elbows, instability was present. The mean preoperative values for joint motion were: flexion, 118°; extension, -24°, supine, 80°, and; prone, 71°. RESULT: The mean postoperative follow-up time was 39 months. The mean postoperative joint motion was 133° for flexion, -20° for extension, 84° supine, and 78° prone. On nine elbows (50%) an improved postoperative range of motion was reported, reaching functional levels. Twelve cases (66.6%) showed pain resolution or improvement to a level not interfering on the activities of daily life. According to Bruce's assessment method, the results were as follows: seven excellent, three good, two fair and six poor results, with an average of 85.5 points. Synovitis recurrence was found in six cases (33.3%), and evolution to osteoarthrosis was found in four (22.2%). CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic elbow synovectomy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis leads to pain improvement in 66.6% of the cases; however, it does not cause a significant range of motion improvement.
28117214 A novel JAK inhibitor, peficitinib, demonstrates potent efficacy in a rat adjuvant-induced 2017 Jan The Janus kinase (JAK) family of tyrosine kinases is associated with various cytokine receptors. JAK1 and JAK3 play particularly important roles in the immune response, and their inhibition is expected to provide targeted immune modulation. Several oral JAK inhibitors have recently been developed for treating autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here, we investigated the pharmacological effects of peficitinib (formerly known as ASP015K), a novel, chemically synthesized JAK inhibitor. We found that peficitinib inhibited JAK1 and JAK3 with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 3.9 and 0.7 nM, respectively. Peficitinib also inhibited IL-2-dependent T cell proliferation in vitro and STAT5 phosphorylation in vitro and ex vivo. Furthermore, peficitinib dose-dependently suppressed bone destruction and paw swelling in an adjuvant-induced arthritis model in rats via prophylactic or therapeutic oral dosing regimens. Peficitinib also showed efficacy in the model by continuous intraperitoneal infusion. Area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC) at 50% inhibition of paw swelling via intraperitoneal infusion was similar to exposure levels of AUC at 50% inhibition via oral administration, implying that AUC might be important for determining the therapeutic efficacy of peficitinib. These data suggest that peficitinib has therapeutic potential for the oral treatment of RA.
25645065 Inhibition of hedgehog signal pathway by cyclopamine attenuates inflammation and articular 2015 Jul OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether inhibition of hedgehog (Hh) signal by cyclopamine attenuated inflammation and cartilage damage in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats. METHODS: Cyclopamine (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg) was given by intraperitoneal injection once daily from day 12 to 21 after AIA induction. Paw swelling (volume changes), serum pro-inflammatory cytokines levels (ELISA), histological analysis of joint damage (H&E staining), proteoglycans expression (Alcian blue staining), mRNA levels of sonic Hh (Shh), glioma-associated oncogene homologue 1 (Gli1), type II collagen (COII) and aggrecan in cartilage (real-time PCR) and articular chondrocyte apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling) were measured respectively. KEY FINDINGS: Cyclopamine effectively attenuated inflammation and cartilage damage of AIA rats, as evidenced by reduced paw swelling, serum levels of tumor necrosis factors (TNF)-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and histological scores of joint damage, increased proteoglycans expression and mRNA levels of COII and aggrecan in articular cartilage. Shh or Gli1 mRNA level was correlated negatively with COII and aggrecan mRNA levels, suggesting Hh signal inhibition was associated with promotion of cartilage extracellular matrix production. Furthermore, cyclopamine decreased the number of apoptotic articular chondrocytes of AIA rats, which might be partly related to its mechanisms on relieving cartilage damage. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings present some experimental evidence that Hh signal inhibition might be of potential clinical interest in rheumatoid arthritis treatment.
27588411 Transdermal anti-inflammatory activity of bilayer film containing olive compound hydroxyty 2017 Jan Previous studies have shown that hydroxytyrosol (HT) can be a potential alternative therapeutic agent for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, HT is extensively metabolized following oral administration, which leads to formulating HT in a topical vehicle to prolong drug action as well as to provide a localized effect. Hidrox-6 is a freeze-dried powder derived from fresh olives and contains a high amount of HT (∼3%) and other polyphenols. Alginate bilayer films containing 5% and 10% Hidrox-6 were formulated. The films were characterized with respect to their physical, morphology, rheological properties; drug content uniformity; and in vitro drug release. Acute dermal irritancy tests and a skin sensitization study were carried out in rats. An efficacy study of the bilayer films for RA was conducted using Freund's adjuvant-induced polyarthritis rats. Animal data showed that the bilayer film formulations did not cause skin irritancy. The efficacy in vivo results showed that the Hidrox-6 bilayer films lowered the arthritic scores, paw and ankle circumference, serum IL-6 level and cumulative histological scores compared with those measured for controls. The topical Hidrox-6 bilayer films improve synovitis and inflammatory symptoms in RA and can be a potential alternative to oral RA therapy.
26210858 Secondary osteoporosis in collagen-induced arthritis rats. 2016 Sep Numerous studies have demonstrated that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is often associated with bone loss; however, few experiments have focused on cancellous and cortical bone changes in rats during the process of arthritis. We have investigated bone changes in rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and have explored the characteristics of how RA induces osteoporosis by means of bone histomorphometry, bone biomechanics studies, bone mineral density studies, micro computer tomography, enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis. Bone mineral density of the femur and lumbar vertebrae and biomechanical properties of the femur were decreased in CIA rats. Trabecular bone volume of the tibia and lumbar vertebrae was decreased whereas bone resorption was increased in CIA rats. Bone formation of the tibial shaft in periosteal surfaces was decreased in CIA rats. Furthermore, the trabecular bone loss in CIA rats was severer at 16 weeks than at 8 weeks, as was cortical bone loss. The serum level of tumor necrosis factor α in CIA rats was increased, and the expression of dickkopf 1 and that of receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANKL) ligand (RANKL) in the ankle joints were also increased, but the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) was decreased. We conclude that CIA rats developed systemic osteoporosis, and that osteoporosis became more serious with CIA development. The mechanism may be related to the increase of bone resorption in cancellous bone cause by upregulation of the expression of DKK-1 and regulation of the RANKL/RANK/OPG signaling pathway, and the decrease of bone formation in cortical bone caused by an increase in the expression of DKK-1.
26025971 RANKL expressed on synovial fibroblasts is primarily responsible for bone erosions during 2016 Jun OBJECTIVE: RANKL is mainly expressed by synovial fibroblasts and T cells within the joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients. The relative importance of RANKL expression by these cell types for the formation of bone erosions is unclear. We therefore aimed to quantify the contribution of RANKL by each cell type to osteoclast differentiation and bone destruction during inflammatory arthritis. METHODS: RANKL was specifically deleted in T cells (Tnfsf11(flox/Δ) Lck-Cre), in collagen VI expressing cells including synovial fibroblasts (Tnfsf11(flox/Δ) Col6a1-Cre) and in collagen II expressing cells including articular chondrocytes (Tnfsf11(flox/Δ) Col2a1-Cre). Erosive disease was induced using the collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) models. Osteoclasts and cartilage degradation were assessed by histology and bone erosions were assessed by micro-CT. RESULTS: The inflammatory joint score during CAIA was equivalent in all mice regardless of cell-targeted deletion of RANKL. Significant increases in osteoclast numbers and bone erosions were observed in both the Tnfsf11(flox/Δ) and the Tnfsf11(flox/Δ) Lck-Cre groups during CAIA; however, the Tnfsf11(flox/Δ) Col6a1-Cre mice showed significant protection against osteoclast formation and bone erosions. Similar results on osteoclast formation and bone erosions were obtained in CIA mice. The deletion of RANKL on any cell type did not prevent articular cartilage loss in either model of arthritis used. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of RANKL on synovial fibroblasts rather than T cells is predominantly responsible for the formation of osteoclasts and erosions during inflammatory arthritis. Synovial fibroblasts would be the best direct target in RANKL inhibition therapies.
28243292 Does Regular Use of a Complementary Medicine of Olea Europe and Ficus carica Have Adverse 2016 Fall Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are vulnerable to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in which atherosclerosis plays a major role. In this study, the lipid profile and fasting blood sugar (FBS) of RA patients receiving a complementary medicine of olive and fig, as add-on therapy for routine disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) regimen containing low dose methotrexate (MTX), were studied. A randomized controlled clinical trial was designed. Adult RA patients were randomly allocated in two groups receiving routine DMARDs regimen (control group) and routine DMARDs regimen plus the herbal supplementary formulation of olive oil, fig and olive fruits (intervention group). Patients were followed every 4 weeks for total study period of 16 weeks. In addition to demographic and medical history of the patients, the total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) defined as log(TG/HDL-C), and the fasting blood sugar (FBS) were determined and recorded. 56 patients (control = 27 and intervention = 29), with mean ± sd age of 50.9 ± 12.3 years completed the study. Average MTX dose received by intervention and control groups were 24.30 ± 18.39 and 17.61 ± 15.53 mg/week, respectively (p = 0.11). Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that differences between lipid profile indicators and FBS in the two study groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). No additional substantial adverse reaction was seen in the study groups. Our findings are more reassuring for patients and their doctors to trust on the safety of the investigated complementary preparation to be used as add-on therapy to manage rheumatoid arthritis.
27445359 Genome-wide association studies and gene expression profiles of rheumatoid arthritis: An a 2016 Jul OBJECTIVES: The molecular mechanism of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains elusive. We conducted a protein-protein interaction network-based integrative analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and gene expression profiles of RA. METHODS: We first performed a dense search of RA-associated gene modules by integrating a large GWAS meta-analysis dataset (containing 5539 RA patients and 20 169 healthy controls), protein interaction network and gene expression profiles of RA synovium and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was conducted by DAVID. The protein association networks of gene modules were generated by STRING. RESULTS: For RA synovium, the top-ranked gene module is HLA-A, containing TAP2, HLA-A, HLA-C, TAPBP and LILRB1 genes. For RA PBMCs, the top-ranked gene module is GRB7, consisting of HLA-DRB5, HLA-DRA, GRB7, CD63 and KIT genes. Functional enrichment analysis identified three significant GO terms for RA synovium, including antigen processing and presentation of peptide antigen via major histocompatibility complex class I (false discovery rate (FDR) = 4.86 × 10 - 4), antigen processing and presentation of peptide antigen (FDR = 2.33 × 10 - 3) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4F complex (FDR = 2.52 × 10 - 2). CONCLUSION: This study reported several RA-associated gene modules and their functional association networks.Cite this article: X. Xiao, J. Hao, Y. Wen, W. Wang, X. Guo, F. Zhang. Genome-wide association studies and gene expression profiles of rheumatoid arthritis: an analysis. Bone Joint Res 2016;5:314-319. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.57.2000502.