Background/Purpose:

14-3-3 proteins are chaperonins found in all eukaryotic cells. There are multiple isoforms which are thought to be involved in intracellular signaling and transcription regulation. Recent work has implicated the η (eta) isoform as having diagnostic potential in inflammatory arthritis. Its utility and significance in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) has not been established, but our prior investigation revealed 14-3-3η positivity in some JIA patients. In this study we investigated the utility of measuring 14-3-3η in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Methods:

Measurements of 14-3-3η were obtained during evaluations of new patients with joint pain and in routine follow-up of JIA patients presenting between July 2013 and April of 2015. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP Ab) were measured. A chart review was later conducted to evaluate the clinical significance 14-3-3η. Joint imaging was evaluated for erosive changes.

Results:

23 JIA patients were evaluated. 10 had polyarticular disease, 3 had oligoarticular extended, 3 had seronegative spondyloarthritis (SNSA), 2 had oligoarticular, 2 were undifferentiated, 2 had enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA), and 1 had systemic-onset.

7 of 23 were 14-3-3η positive (5 had polyarticular disease, 1 with ERA, & 1 with oligoarticular). All 5 patients with polyarticular disease also were RF positive and 3 were both RF & anti-CCP Ab positive. The ERA patient was seronegative, and the oligoarticular patient was positive only for RF.

9 of the 23 had erosive disease, 4 of which were polyarticular with a positive 14-3-3η. Of those 1 was RF positive, and the remaining 3 patients were positive for RF and anti-CCP Ab.  Neither the 14-3-3η positive patient with ERA nor the one with oligoarticular disease had erosions.

Conclusion:

14-3-3η can be found in polyarticular JIA and correlates with a positive RF and to a lesser extent a positive anti-CCP Ab.  The majority of polyarticular JIA patients with erosions were 14-3-3η positive.  We hope to expand this small study to include a larger sample and evaluate for any further relationships.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/examination-of-the-clinical-significance-of-14-3-3-eta-in-juvenile-idiopathic-arthritis/