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OP0031 CHILDREN WITH EXTENDED OLIGOARTICULAR AND POLYARTICULAR JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS HAVE ALTERATIONS IN B AND T FOLLICULAR CELL SUBSETS IN PERIPHERAL BLOOD AND A CYTOKINE PROFILE SUSTAINING B CELL ACTIVATION

2023; BMJ; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1136/annrheumdis-2023-eular.3217

1468-2060

C. Tomé, F. Oliveira-Ramos, Raquel Campanilho‐Marques, Ana Filipa Mourão, Sandra Sousa, Cláudia Marques, A. T. Melo, R. L. Teixeira, A. P. Martins, Sofia Moeda, P. Costa Reis, Rita Torres, M. J. Sousa Bandeira, Helena Fonseca, Anabela Susana de Sousa Gonçalves, M. J. Santos, Luís Graça, J. E. Fonseca, R. A. Moura,

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Research

Background Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease in children. Our group has recently demonstrated that extended oligoarticular and polyarticular JIA mostly evolve to a rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-like phenotype in adulthood. Disturbances in B cells, T follicular helper (Tfh) and T follicular regulatory (Tfr) cell immune responses are associated with RA pathogenesis, but their exact role in JIA development is poorly understood. Objectives The main goal of this study was to characterize the frequency and phenotype of B, Tfh and Tfr cells in peripheral blood and the cytokine environment present in circulation in children with with extended oligoarticular JIA (eoJIA) and polyarticular JIA (pJIA) when compared to healthy controls, children with persistent oligoarticular JIA (poJIA) and adult JIA patients. Methods Blood samples were collected from 105 JIA patients (children and adults) and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and the frequency and phenotype of B, Tfh and Tfr cells were evaluated by flow cytometry. Serum levels of APRIL, BAFF, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, IL-21, IL-22, IFN-γ, PD-1, PD-L1, sCD40L, CXCL13 and TNF were measured by multiplex bead-based immunoassay and/ or ELISA in all groups included. Results The frequency of B, Tfh and Tfr cells was similar between JIA patients and controls. Children with eoJIA and pJIA, but not poJIA, had significantly lower frequencies of plasmablasts, regulatory T cells and higher levels of Th17-like Tfh cells in circulation when compared to controls. Furthermore, APRIL, BAFF, IL-6 and IL-17A serum levels were significantly higher in pediatric eoJIA and pJIA patients when compared to controls. These immunological alterations were not found in adult JIA patients in comparison to controls. Conclusion Changes in B and Tfh cell subpopulations, but not in Tfr cells, were found in peripheral blood of children with eoJIA and pJIA when compared to controls. Our results suggest a potential role and/ or activation profile of B and Th17-like Tfh cells in the pathogenesis of eoJIA and pJIA, but not poJIA. REFERENCES: NIL. Acknowledgements: NIL. Disclosure of Interests None Declared.