Dendritic cells as a key part in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis

Objectives: is to investigate the subpopulations of dendritic cells (DCs) in RA patients according to the stage of disease. Patients and methods: sixty patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with early and moderate stages were included in the study. The patients with osteoarthritis (OA) were used as a control (30 patients). Subpopulations DCs such as myeloid (mDCS) and plasmacytoid (pDCs) and also B-lymphocytes (B-cells) were evaluated on different stages before and after treatment.Results: The patients with early RA are characterized a high amount of mDCs and B-cells in comparison of moderate RA and OA. After 3 and 6 months treatment we detected reducing mDCs and B-cells. At the same time this changes were associated with dropping of activity of disease.Conclusion: This data confirmed the important role mDCs in RA pathogenesis especially at early stage and high activity of disease.