Study of the Articular Microbiota in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trial

— MICROPORE  

Official title:

Study of the Articular Microbiota in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04056234
• Other study ID #: CHU BX 2011/12
• Status: Completed
• Start date: February 21, 2012
• Est. completion date: February 22, 2013

Study information

• Verified date: August 2019
• Source: University Hospital, Bordeaux
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

The cause of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unknown, although major advances have been done these last ten years in the comprehension of its pathophysiology.

The aim of this study is to described a synovial microbiota specific for rheumatoid arthritis.

Description:

The cause of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unknown, although major advances have been done these last ten years in the comprehension of its pathophysiology. One of the most significant discoveries was the post-translational modification of various self-proteins resulting in the replacement of arginine residues by citrulline. This conversion results in modifications of the basic charge of the peptides, of its primary and secondary structure, and the transformed peptides can then bound to some HLA-DR molecules (HLA-DR4, HLA-DR1), that are the best well known genetic factors of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This leads to immunization to citrullinated peptides in genetically predisposed patients, which is now identified as the most characteristic auto-immun phenomenon of RA. Anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) have become the most relevant biologic test for the diagnosis of RA.

The conversion to citrulline is due to the action of an enzyme, the peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD). Endogenous PADs have been identified in humans, but their activation needs high concentrations of calcium in the cells that are not physiological. Thus, the activation of self-PADs occurs only in extreme conditions, such as apoptosis, or major stresses resulting from toxic or infectious process. But some bacteria also contain PADs that are involved in their energetic metabolism. Two main factors have yet been identified to lead to citrullination of self-peptides and are now recognized as important environment risk factors for RA: smoking and periodontitis. Periodontitis is the consequence of an infection that is mainly due to Porphyromonas gingivalis, one of the bacteria processing a PAD. These facts reinforce the old hypothesis of an infectious origin of RA.

However, all RA patients are neither smoker nor affected by periodontitis, and many other bacteria have PADs and may be involved in the pathophysiology of RA. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that citrullination process and ACPA production can precede RA for years, while the citrullination and ACPA production are located to a mucous membrane (oral, pulmonary…). How these processes reach the joint remains a mystery.

The hypothesis is that the involved bacteria translocate to the joint, inducing local citrullination of synovial peptides, inflammation and production of ACPA within the joint, and resulting in arthritis.

The aim of this study is to demonstrate this translocation of bacteria in the synovium, and to described a synovial microbiota specific for rheumatoid arthritis .

Pilot study, including only few patients, just to demonstrate the validity of the translocation concept and the performance of the procedures.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 36
• Est. completion date: February 22, 2013
• Est. primary completion date: February 22, 2013
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: N/A and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients presenting with RA according to ACR87 and ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria

• patients presenting with RA anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies positive

• patients presenting with active RA, characterized by at least one synovitis

• patients presenting with an arthritis requiring arthrocentesis and synovial fluid collection for diagnostic or therapeutic purpose

• patients giving agreement to participate to the study and to sign informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients suffering from osteoarthritis

• patients presenting with joint effusion justifying an arthrocentesis and synovial fluid collection for diagnostic of therapeutic purpose

• patients giving agreement to participate to the study and to sign informed consent

• Patients presenting with another arthropathy than anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies positive RA or osteoarthritis

• Patients not requiring arthrocentesis for medical reasons

• Patients refusing to sign informed consent

• Patients presenting with understanding problems due to language or cognitive reasons.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Arthritis
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid
• Arthrosis
• Joint Diseases
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Synovial Disorder

Intervention

Procedure:
• Joint puncture
Patient requiring joint puncture for diagnostic or therapeutic reasons.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
n/a

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University Hospital, Bordeaux

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Presence of bacterial DNA by 16s PCR	Detection by 16s PCR of DNA of bacterial origin in synovial fluid specimens	At the screening
Primary	Presence of a characteristic microbiota	Research of a characteristic microbiota of rheumatoid arthritis	At the screening