TITLE:
Gene Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha in Etanercept-Treated Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
AUTHORS:
Aseel S. Mahmood, Abdul-Kareem A. Al-Kazaz, Ali H. Ad’hiah, Khadier K. Mayouf
KEYWORDS:
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Tumor Necrosis Factor Gene Expression, Etanercept, (qRT-PCR)
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.5 No.9,
August
24,
2017
ABSTRACT: Fifty-one
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were enrolled to assess the gene expression
of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)
by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in etanercept-treated RA patients, with some
emphasis on clinical and biological markers of disease. The results revealed
that the ΔCt mean range in total, male and female RA patients and controls was
1.286 ± 1.226 - 4.023 ± 0.856 and the differences were not. Laboratory and clinical
findings in subgroups of patients also showed no significant variations in the
distribution of 2-ΔΔCt means, with the exception of anti-cyclic
citrullinated peptide (ACCP) antibodies. The lowest expression was observed in
moderate positive patients (1.566 ± 1.104) compared to low and high positive
patients (4.061 ± 1.366 and 9.668 ± 3.518, respectively) for ACCP antibodies,
and the difference was significant (p = 0.043). Inspecting the 2-ΔΔCt means in duration of disease and gender revealed that male patients recorded a
lower mean than female patients (0.827 ± 0.550 vs. 4.143 ± 1.317) at
10 years duration of disease, female
patients showed a lower mean than male patients (1.242 ± 0.372 vs. 5.607
± 3.334). However, both differences were not significant. It is concluded that
etanercept was effective in normalizing the TNF gene expression, but variations that were related to gender, duration of
disease and some biological markers of disease, were observed.