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Galectin 1 (Gal1) is a lectin with a wide cellular expression that functions as a negative regulator of the immune system in several animal models of autoimmune diseases. Identification of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has improved during the last decade, although there is still a need for biomarkers allowing an early diagnosis. In this regard, it has been recently proposed that Gal1 serum levels are increased in patients with RA compared to the general population. However, this topic is controversial in the literature. In this work, we provide additional information about the potential usefulness of Gal1 serum levels as a biomarker for RA diagnosis. We studied Gal1 serum and synovial fluid levels and clinical parameters in samples from 62 patients with early arthritis belonging to the PEARL study. In addition, 24 healthy donors were studied. We found that both patients fulfilling RA criteria and patients with undifferentiated arthritis showed higher Gal1 levels than healthy donors. Similar findings were observed in synovial fluid, which showed even higher levels than serum. However, we did not find correlation between Gal1 levels and disease activity or disability. Therefore, our results suggest that Gal1 could be a diagnostic but not a severity biomarker.

Galectin-1 (Gal1) plays a regulatory role in the immune system. We have recently validated that Gal1 serum (sGal1) levels are increased in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to healthy donors (HDs); however, there is no information on Gal1 in spondyloarthritis (SpA). Objective: To compare Gal1 levels in patients with SpA versus RA as a diagnostic biomarker. Methods: We studied sGal1 levels in HD (n = 52), SpA (n = 80) and RA patients (n = 64) who were randomly divided into discovery and validation sets. Synovial fluid (SF) from osteoarthritis (OA) (n = 28), peripheral SpA (n = 28) and RA (n = 28) were studied. In SpA patients, we analyzed the association between clinical parameters and sGal1 levels. Results: sGal1 levels were significantly lower in patients with SpA with respect to RA and similar to those of the HD. A cut-off of 20.50 ng/mL (sGal1) allowed one to differentiate RA patients from SpA and HD (Odd Ratio (OR) 8.23 and 12.64, respectively). Gal1 SF levels in SpA were slightly lower than OA patients and significantly lower than RA patients. No correlation was observed between sGal1 levels and clinical parameters in SpA patients. Conclusion: Gal1 could act as a diagnostic biomarker of RA and would allow one to distinguish SpA and RA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

miRNAs have been associated with psoriasis since just over a decade. However, we are far from a complete understanding of their role during the development of this disease. Our objective was to characterize the cutaneous expression of miRNAs not previously described in psoriasis, the changes induced following the treatment with biologicals and their association with disease improvement. Next generation sequencing was performed from five skin samples from psoriasis patients (lesional and non-lesional skin) and five controls, and from this cohort, 12 microRNAs were selected to be analyzed in skin samples from 44 patients with plaque psoriasis. In 15 patients, an additional sample was obtained after three months of biological treatment. MiR-9-5p, miR-133a-3p and miR-375 were downregulated in the lesional skin of psoriasis patients. After treatment, expression of miR-133a-3p, miR-375, miR-378a and miR-135b in residual lesions returned towards the levels observed in non-lesional skin. The decrease in miR-135b levels after treatment with biologics was associated with both the improvement of patients evaluated through Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score and the decrease in local inflammatory response. Moreover, basal expression of miR-135b along with age was associated with the improvement of psoriasis, suggesting its possible usefulness as a prognostic biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]