Higher frequencies of age-associated B-cells in early arthritis are linked to atherosclerosis and immune circuits—a potential role as a biomarker for risk stratification
Authors' conclusion
Higher frequencies of ABCs are an early event along arthritis course, linked to therapeutic outcomes, inflammatory milieu and atherosclerosis burden.
Study context
- Population
- Early RA patients, individuals with clinically suspect arthralgia and healthy controls
- Participants
- 58 / 11 / 33
- Exposure
- Early RA vs clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA) vs healthy controls
- Early RAn = 58
- CSAn = 11
- Healthy controls (HC)n = 33reference
- Outcome
- ABC frequencies in the earliest stages of inflammatory arthritis and their potential role as biomarkers of atherosclerosis
Methodological detailsflow cytometry, Doppler-ultrasound, multiplex immunoassays, high-throughput targeted proteomics
- Flow cytometry
- Doppler-ultrasound
- Multiplex immunoassays
- High-throughput targeted proteomics
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Circulating ABCs
- Higher ABCs median frequency found in CSA
- Early RA vs HC: P = 0.013
- Early RA vs HC: P < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Association of ABCs frequency with clinical features and outcomes · 6 and 12 months
- Unrelated to disease features and traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors
- Negatively associated with good therapeutic outcomes upon csDMARD at 6 and 12 months
Correlation of ABCs frequency with cytokines and proteomics
- Positively correlated with pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFNγ, TNF, IL-6 and IL-21) and proteomic signatures of B- and T-cell responses and atherosclerosis-linked pathways
Atherosclerosis burden in RA
- ABCs predicted atherosclerosis burden after adjusting for confounders
- Adding ABCs strata significantly improved risk stratification over conventional instruments
Original publication
Higher frequencies of age-associated B-cells in early arthritis are linked to atherosclerosis and immune circuits—a potential role as a biomarker for risk stratification. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 6 June 2025. doi:10.
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