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The in vitro addition of methotrexate and/or methylprednisolone determines peripheral reduction in Th17 and expansion of conventional Treg and of IL-10 producing Th17 lymphocytes in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

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Abstract

The aim of our study was to evaluate methotrexate (MTX) and methylprednisolone (MP) effect on peripheral Th17 and Treg subsets in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We enrolled 15 patients (10 early RA and 5 long-standing disease) with active RA and 10 age-matched healthy donors as controls. Frequencies of Th17 and Treg were quantified using flow cytometry before and after in vitro addition of MTX, MP or both drugs. Our results showed a reduction in the overall Th17 population followed by an increase in Th17 IL-10+ and Treg, after in vitro treatment of PBMCs with the drugs in patients with early RA. Long-standing disease patients showed a less evident increase in Treg cells and less enhancement of IL-10 Th17 cells. We suggest that the treatment with MTX and MP could ameliorate RA disease activity by normalizing the distribution/imbalance of Th17/Treg and indicate a new regulatory role of IL-17+ cells in RA patients.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from Ministero della Università e della Ricerca Scientifica of Italy.

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The authors disclaimed no financial conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sezione di Reumatologia, Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Piazza delle Cliniche 2, 90127, Palermo, Italy

    G. Guggino, A. Giardina, A. Ferrante, C. Schinocca, F. Ciccia & G. Triolo

  2. Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche e Forensi, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    G. Guggino, G. Giardina, G. Sireci & F. Dieli

Authors
  1. G. Guggino
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  2. A. Giardina
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  3. A. Ferrante
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  4. G. Giardina
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  5. C. Schinocca
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  6. G. Sireci
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  7. F. Dieli
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  8. F. Ciccia
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  9. G. Triolo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Ciccia.

Additional information

F. Ciccia and G. Triolo shared Co-senior Authorship.

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Guggino, G., Giardina, A., Ferrante, A. et al. The in vitro addition of methotrexate and/or methylprednisolone determines peripheral reduction in Th17 and expansion of conventional Treg and of IL-10 producing Th17 lymphocytes in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol Int 35, 171–175 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-014-3030-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-014-3030-2

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