Impact of COVID-19 on gene Expression of CTLA-4 and Its Potential Role in the Development of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Post-Infection Analysis.
2025
Maryam Sanguor | Hatham Atwan | Iman Rabeeah | Zeenah Atwan
Background: Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, high number of mortalities around the world was reported. Post infection, the immune system is activated in abnormal manner leads to an excessive release of cytokines and interleukins implicated in eliminating the viruses including CTLA-4. Such responses sometimes cause autoimmune disease including Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Aim of study: The study aimed to analyse gene expression of CTLA4 in patients diagnosed with RA post Covid-19 infection. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 61 RA patients diagnosed post Covid-19 patients RAI, and 40 control (C) experienced at least one Covid-19 infection. RNA was extracted and used to prepare cDNA from each sample to analyse the cellular expression of CTLA-4 using relative gene expression . Results: The study involved 61 patients, 17 of them were vaccinated without prior Covid-19 infection (RAV) as well as 44 that were diagnosed with RA following their recovery from Covid-19 (RAI).The results showed significant increase in CTLA-4 gene expression only in RAI samples. However, a decrease in RAV sample compared to control was noticedConclusion:COVID-19 seems to have an important role in the development of the RA disease, as during its occurrence immuno-changes disorders can happen, one of obvious influences of which is the significant changes in the gene expression of CTLA-4 gene, which in turn could be involved in the development of the RA.
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