A distinct multicytokine profile is associated with anti-cyclical citrullinated peptide antibodies in patients with early untreated inflammatory arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Early inflammatory arthritis is clinically heterogenous and biologically-based indicators are needed to distinguish severe from self-limited disease. Anti-cyclical citrullinated peptides (CCP) have been identified as potential prognostic markers in early arthritis cohorts. Since cytokine networks are known to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other forms of inflammatory arthritis, a panel of pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines was measured to identify biologically-based subsets of early arthritis, relating cytokine profiles to clinical measures and to the presence of RA-associated autoantibodies.

METHODS: Plasma concentrations of cytokines [interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta), IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, CXCL8 (IL-8), IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-17, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interferon-g (IFN-g), CCL2 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, MCP-1), CCL4 (MIP-1beta), and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a)] were measured in patients with early, untreated inflammatory arthritis [symptom duration < or = 12 months; > or = 1 swollen joint; RA, n = 41; undifferentiated arthritis (UA), n = 23]. Cytokine expression patterns were determined using cluster analysis.

RESULTS: Both pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines were elevated in patients over controls (n = 21). RA clustered into subgroups based solely on cytokine profiles. The "mild" RA subgroup (n = 23) had higher CCL4 (MIP-1beta), CXCL8 (IL-8), IL-2, IL-12, IL-17, IL-5, and IL-10 levels, lower IL-6, IFN-g, GM-CSF, and IL-4 levels, less CCP positivity (52% vs 82%; p < 0.05), and lower CCP titers [71 (78) vs 153 (94); p < 0.01], but similar erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and joint counts compared to the "severe" RA groups. CCL4 (MIP-1beta), IL-13, IL-12, TNF-a, and IL-4 best distinguished the groups. Combining UA with RA samples preserved cytokine subgroups and strengthened the autoantibody associations. Fewer UA patients in the "mild" cluster (n = 16) were RF-positive (24% vs 100%; p < 0.002) or CCP-positive (24% vs 66%; p < 0.08) compared to the "severe" group.

CONCLUSION: Early untreated inflammatory arthritis can be categorized into distinct subgroups based on cytokine profiles. These subgroups are associated with CCP and RF autoantibodies. Integration of cytokine profiles with autoantibody status may assist prognostication and treatment decisions in these patients.