Endothelial cell dysfunction in RA: biomarkers IL-8, E-selectin, VCAM-1 and MCP-1 correlated with PET/CT
Authors' conclusion
Anti-inflammatory therapy in RA gives early and sustained reductions in endothelial biomarkers, particularly E-selectin and IL-8, with significant differences across subgroups defined by disease activity and therapeutic responses, and provide significant correlations with aortic regions by FDG PET/CT.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with active RA receiving anti-inflammatory therapy and age- and sex-matched OA controlsfinal assessment
- Participants
- 40 / 18 / 22 / 19
- Exposure
- Active RA on anti-inflammatory therapy vs age- and sex-matched OA controls
- RAn = 40
- Early RAn = 18
- Established RAn = 22
- OAn = 19reference
- Outcome
- Change in endothelial biomarkers (E-selectin, VCAM-1, MCP-1, IL-8) with anti-inflammatory therapy
- Follow-up
- 6 months
Methodological detailsage- and sex-matched OA controls, FDG-PET/CT at baseline and 6 months, stratified by disease duration and treatment response
- Age- and sex-matched OA controls
- FDG-PET/CT at baseline and 6 months
- Stratified by disease duration and treatment response
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Change in endothelial biomarkers in RA cohort (Δ6M-BL)
- E-selectin, RA: Δ6M-BL −4 ng/ml ± 3.17
- P = 0.006
- IL-8, RA: Δ6M-BL −10 pg/ml ± 4.2
- P< 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Change in biomarkers by disease duration (subgroups) · 6 months
- IL-8, early RA: Δ6M-BL −8 pg/ml ± 4.16
- P = 0.022
- IL-8, established RA: Δ6M-BL −12 pg/ml ± 4.17
- P = 0.004
- E-selectin, established RA: Δ6M-BL −5 ng/ml ± 5.22
- P = 0.012
- E-selectin decreased only in established RA
Treatment responders
- Responders to therapy showed reductions in both endothelial markers
Correlation with aortic FDG-PET/CT SUVmax
- Positive correlations between ΔSUVmax and ΔIL-8, and ΔE-selectin
Original publication
Endothelial cell dysfunction in RA: biomarkers IL-8, E-selectin, VCAM-1 and MCP-1 correlated with PET/CT. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 8 May 2025. doi:10.
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