Expression And Significance Of Beclinl And Microtubule-associated Protein1Light Chain3(LC3) In Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective:To observe whether autophagy occurs in peripheral blood monocytesfrom patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis; To determine the expression ofautophagy related markers Beclin1and microtubule associated protein1lightchain3(LC3) at the gene and protein level and explore the role ofautophagy in RA pathogenesis.Methods:In this experiment study,25patients with RA and15healthy volunteerswere joined whose peripheral blood were recruited respectively, andmonocytes were separated and obtained; The expression of Beclin1and LC3was measured by RT-PCR, and detected the protein level of Beclin1andLC3by immunohistochemistry; At the same time, ELISA was used to detectserum level of TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1βfrom RApatients and healthy volunteers.Results:⒈Beclin1and LC3mRNA was expressed in peripheral bloodmonocytes of RA patients and healthy volunteers. The expression of Beclin1mRNA was lower in RA compared to healthy volunteers (P<0.05). There wasno significant difference in expression of LC3mRNA between RA patientsand healthy volunteers (P>0.05).2. The protein of beclin1and LC3were observed in peripheral bloodmonocytes of RA patients. Beclin1was located in the cell membrane, cytoplasm. LC3was distributed in cytoplasm, some nuclei.3. The serum level of TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1βfrom RA was higher thanhealthy volunteers(P<0.05). The expression of Beclin1mRNA was found tocorrelate significantly with TNF-α、IL-1β. There was a positive correlationwith TNF-α(r=0.505,P<0.05)and a negative correlation with IL-1β(r=-0.499,P<0.05).There was no correlation with IL-6（P>0.05）.Conclusion:Autophagy occurs in peripheral blood monocytes from patients withRheumatoid Arthritis. The expression of autophagy-related markers Beclin1at the gene level was lower. Dysregulated expression of autophagy wasassociated with the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and could play a rolein RA pathogenesis.