Yujue He1, Jifeng Tang1, Bodeng Wu2, Bin Yang1, Qishui Ou3, Jinpiao Lin4. 1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China; First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Fuzhou, China. 2. Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China. 3. Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China; First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Fuzhou, China. Electronic address: ouqishui@fjmu.edu.cn. 4. Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China; First Clinical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Fuzhou, China. Electronic address: jinpiaolin@fjmu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The albumin to fibrinogen ratio (AFR) and the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) have been served as inflammatory markers. However, their roles in RA remain unclear. We investigated the association of AFR/CAR with the concentration of autoantibodies and Th17 cells in RA. METHODS: A total of 196 RA patients, 200 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 200 healthy donors (HD) who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University were enrolled. The results of FIB, ALB, CRP, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) from RA patients and SLE patients were retrospectively analyzed. The percentage of Th17 cells in peripheral blood of RA patients was detected by flow cytometry, and the relative expression of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-17A was detected by RT-qPCR. Correlation analysis of AFR/CAR and Th17 cells, CRP, ESR, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-17A in RA was conducted. RESULTS: Compared with SLE patients and healthy donors (HD), AFR concentration was significantly lower (P < 0.01) in RA patients, while CAR concentration was significantly increased (P < 0.01) in RA patients. AFR showed negative correlation with CRP (r = -0.7103), ESR (r = -0.6542), RF (-0.2219), Th17 cells (r = -0.5952) and IL-17A (r = -0.4681). CAR was positively correlated with CRP (r = 0.9899), ESR (r = 0.605), RF (0.1867), Th17 cells (r = 0.6818), TNF-α (r = 0.3388), and IL-17A (r = 0.2046). CONCLUSIONS: The concentration of AFR in RA patients was reduced, while CAR concentration was increased. AFR and CAR are associated with CRP, ESR, RF, and Th17 cell ratios in RA patients, which can be used as potential indicators for determining RA inflammation.
BACKGROUND: The albumin to fibrinogen ratio (AFR) and the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) have been served as inflammatory markers. However, their roles in RA remain unclear. We investigated the association of AFR/CAR with the concentration of autoantibodies and Th17 cells in RA. METHODS: A total of 196 RApatients, 200 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 200 healthy donors (HD) who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University were enrolled. The results of FIB, ALB, CRP, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) from RApatients and SLEpatients were retrospectively analyzed. The percentage of Th17 cells in peripheral blood of RApatients was detected by flow cytometry, and the relative expression of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-17A was detected by RT-qPCR. Correlation analysis of AFR/CAR and Th17 cells, CRP, ESR, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-17A in RA was conducted. RESULTS: Compared with SLEpatients and healthy donors (HD), AFR concentration was significantly lower (P < 0.01) in RApatients, while CAR concentration was significantly increased (P < 0.01) in RApatients. AFR showed negative correlation with CRP (r = -0.7103), ESR (r = -0.6542), RF (-0.2219), Th17 cells (r = -0.5952) and IL-17A (r = -0.4681). CAR was positively correlated with CRP (r = 0.9899), ESR (r = 0.605), RF (0.1867), Th17 cells (r = 0.6818), TNF-α (r = 0.3388), and IL-17A (r = 0.2046). CONCLUSIONS: The concentration of AFR in RApatients was reduced, while CAR concentration was increased. AFR and CAR are associated with CRP, ESR, RF, and Th17 cell ratios in RApatients, which can be used as potential indicators for determining RA inflammation.