Inflammation-Associated Plasma Proteins in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis

A study published in RMD Open found that patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have a distinct plasma protein signature compared to healthy controls.

Researchers investigated the effects of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on inflammation-associated plasma proteins in patients with PsA. The research was part of the FLORA trial, a 26-week, double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled study involving 31 patients with moderate to high peripheral PsA disease activity who had not responded to at least 3 months of methotrexate treatment. Participants were either given a gastroscopic-guided FMT from a healthy donor (n=15) or a sham procedure (n=16). Plasma samples from these patients, as well as from 31 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, were collected and analyzed using the Olink Target-96 Inflammation panel to measure 92 inflammation-associated proteins.

At baseline, 26 proteins showed significant differences between patients with PsA and healthy controls, with 10 proteins, including IL-6, CCL20, and IFN-γ, elevated in patients with PsA. Following FMT, significant changes were observed in the levels of 12 proteins, such as TNF, IFN-γ, and SLAMF1, across all timepoints. Notably, FMT-treated patients exhibited significant differences in protein levels compared to the sham group, with the most pronounced changes in TNF, IFN-γ, and stem cell factor. FMT led to sustained elevation of IFN-γ and had a strong positive impact on proteins like AXIN-1 and CCL25, while reducing levels of CCL19 and IL-6.

The study concluded that patients with active PsA have a distinct plasma protein signature compared to healthy controls and FMT can modulate several key inflammation-related proteins, including a notable increase in IFN-γ, suggesting potential immunomodulatory effects of FMT in PsA treatment.

Reference
Kragsnaes MS, Jensen JRB, Nilsson AC, et al. Dynamics of inflammation-associated plasma proteins following faecal microbiota transplantation in patients with psoriatic arthritis and healthy controls: exploratory findings from the FLORA trial. RMD Open. Published online January 30, 2024. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003750