AB0121 EXPRESSION OF CHEMOKINES AND CHEMOKINE RECEPTORS IN DIFFERENT TISSUES AND THEIR LOCALIZATION IN THE JOINTS OF RATS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Authors: LI Zhen, Huiqin Hao, Ze Wang, Wenjing Lu, Yang Liu
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2019)

<h3>Background:</h3> Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex, chronic, multisystem autoimmune disease characterized by a sustained immune response that leads to inflammation in the body and destruction of joints. While not completely understood, immune cells, as well as soluble factors such as cytokines and chemokines, are believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of RA. chemokines play an important role in the development of inflammation and the regulation of cytokines. However, studies of chemokines have focused mainly on their role in cancer, and there is a lack of relevant reports on their function in chronic, multisystem autoimmune diseases. <h3>Objectives:</h3> Here, using molecular biology techniques were performed to evaluate the expression of 7 chemokines/chemokine receptors in different tissues and their localization in the joints. <h3>Methods:</h3> We established a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model in female Wistar rats and evaluated the expression patterns of 7 chemokines/chemokine receptors (CCR3, CCR5, CCR7, CCL5, CXCR3, CXCR4, and CXCL10) in different tissues using qRT-PCR and western blotting and their localization in the joints using immunohistochemistry. <h3>Results:</h3> The mRNA expression of <i>CCR</i>3, <i>CCR</i>7, <i>CXCR</i>4, and<i> CXCL</i>10 was significantly higher in the spleen and joints, while that of <i>CCR</i>5 and <i>CCL</i>5 was significantly higher in the liver and that of <i>CXCR</i>3 was significantly higher in the lung, spleen, and joints (Fig. 1). Protein expression patterns largely corresponded to mRNA expression patterns. In the joints, CCR3, CCR5, and CCR7 were expressed in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), macrophages, stromal cells, and endothelial cells. CCL5, CXCR3, and CXCR4 were expressed in FLS, endothelial cells, and stromal cells. CXCL10 was expressed throughout the synovium, stromal cells, and endothelial cells (Fig. 2). <h3>Conclusion:</h3> Seven chemokines/chemokine receptors are widely expressed in different tissues in the CIA rat model, and all are involved in the inflammatory response. Our results provide a basis for investigations into the mechanism of action of RA and suggest that chemokines may become novel targets for RA treatment. <h3>References</h3> [1] Li Z. C., Xiao J., Peng J. L., et al. (2014). Functional annotation of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis associated genes by integrative genome-wide gene expression profiling analysis. PloS one, 9(2), e85784. [2] Pandya J. M., Lundell A. C., Andersson K., et al. (2017). Blood chemokine profile in untreated early rheumatoid arthritis: CXCL10 as a disease activity marker. Arthritis. Res. Ther., 19(1), 20. [3] Rump L., Mattey D. L., Kehoe O., Middleton J. (2017). An initial investigation into endothelial CC chemokine expression in the human rheumatoid synovium. Cytokine, 97, 133-140. <h3>Acknowledgement:</h3> The authors are grateful to everyone who helped in this work. This work was supported by Applied Basic Research Project of Shanxi Province (201801D121228), Key Research and Development (R&amp;D) Projects of Shanxi Province (201803D31084), Scientific and Technological Innovation Programs of Higher Education Institutions in Shanxi (201804001), and Research Project of Health Commission of Shanxi Province (2018001). <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> None declared