Table 4.
Histopathological parameters and miRNA expression levels in TABs from GCA patients with different clinical characteristics.
| Constitutional symptoms | PMR | Headache | Jaw claudication | GCA relapse | Visual disturbances | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | |
| (n = 34) | (n = 12) | (n = 9) | (n = 37) | (n = 37) | (n = 9) | (n = 17) | (n = 29) | (n = 19) | (n = 27) | (n = 12) | (n = 34) | |
| CD3+ [cells/mm2] | 120.5 (1.3–375) | 197.9 (3–329.1) | 116 (1.3–325) | 139.7 (1.3–375) | 182.5 (1.3–375) | 10 (1.3–218.3) | 235 (69.3–375)** | 10 (1.3–340) | 125 (1.3–312.7) | 139.7 (1.3–375) | 161.7 (3.4–321) | 132.4 (1.3–375) |
| CD4+ [cells/mm2] | 89.3 (1.7–264.3) | 138.8 (3.8–230.9) | 86.1 (1.7–264.3) | 103.6 (1.7–260.2) | 127.3 (1.7–264.3) | 11 (1.7–157.2) | 161.4 (50.2–264.3)** | 11 (1.7–230.9) | 92.5 (1.7–243.2) | 119 (1.7–264.3) | 121.2 (3.4–230.9) | 98.1 (1.7–264.3) |
| CD8+ [cells/mm2] | 45.1 (0–148.8) | 81.5 (0–157.3) | 42 (0.2–126) | 66 (0–157.3) | 71 (0–157.3)* | 3.3 (0–81.5) | 90.3 (24.8–157.3)** | 2.5 (0–148) | 45.2 (0–148) | 55 (0–157.3) | 58.1 (0–117.8) | 50.1 (0–157.3) |
| CD4+:CD8+ ratio | 2.1 (1.5–8.5) | 2 (1.4–5.9) | 2.1 (1.5–8.5) | 2 (1.4–4.6) | 2 (1.4–5.9) | 2.2 (1.6–8.5) | 2 (1.4–2.7) | 2.2 (1.4–8.5) | 1.9 (1.4–4.6) | 2.2 (1.4–8.5) | 2.2 (1.7–5.9) | 2 (1.4–8.5) |
| NFATC+ [cells/mm2] | 83 (1.2–300.6) | 146.8 (3.5–288.9) | 79 (1.7–227.9) | 121.3 (1.2–300.6) | 140.6 (1.2–300.6) | 8.3 (1.7–180.9) | 152.9 (49.1–300.6)** | 8.3 (1.2–262.7) | 87 (1.2–296.3) | 140.6 (1.7–300.6) | 100.2 (2–296.3) | 108.4 (1.2–300.6) |
| NFATC+:CD4+ ratio | 1 (0.6–1.6) | 1.2 (0.7–1.6) | 1 (0.7–1.4) | 1.1 (0.6–1.6) | 1 (0.6–1.6) | 1 (0.6–1.4) | 1 (0.6–1.4) | 1 (0.6–1.6) | 1.2 (0.6–1.5) | 1 (0.6–1.6) | 0.9 (0.6–1.4) | 1.1 (0.6–1.6) |
| CD20+ [cells/mm2] | 10.8 (0–167.5) | 15.7 (0.3–60.2) | 13 (0.3–51) | 11 (0–167.5) | 13 (0–167.5) | 1.7 (0–47) | 18 (3.5–167.5)* | 1.3 (0–71.3) | 18 (0–69) | 10 (0–167.5) | 14.5 (0.3–71.3) | 12 (0–167.5) |
| CD68+ [score] | 2 (1–4) | 2.5 (1–4) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–4) | 2 (1–4) | 1 (1–4) | 2 (1–4)* | 1 (1–4) | 2 (1–4) | 2 (1–4) | 2 (1–4) | 2 (1–4) |
| MGCs [score] | 1 (0–4) | 2.5 (0–4) | 1 (0–3) | 1 (0–4) | 2 (0–4) | 0 (0–4) | 2 (0–4) | 0 (0–4) | 1 (0–4) | 1 (0–4) | 1.5 (0–4) | 1 (0–4) |
| Eosinophils [score] | 0.5 (0–3) | 1 (0–3) | 0 (0–3) | 1 (0–3) | 1 (0–3) | 0 (0–3) | 2 (0–3) | 0 (0–3) | 1 (0–3) | 0 (0–3) | 0.5 (0–3) | 0.5 (0–3) |
| miR-30a-5p | –2 (–3.9 to 0.6) | –1.9 (–4.2 to 0.7) | –2.4 (–3.3 to 0.1) | –2 (–4.2 to 0.7) | –2.1 (–4.2 to 0.7) | –0.5 (–3.3 to 0.2) | –2.5 (–3.6 to –0.3)** | –0.6 (–4.2 to 0.7) | –2.3 (–4.2 to 0.3) | –2 (–3.9 to 0.7) | –2 (–3.6 to 0.7) | –2.1 (–4.2 to 0.6) |
| miR-30b-5p | –1.2 (–2.8 to 0.4) | –0.7 (–2.4 to 0.3) | –1 (–2.1 to 0) | –1.1 (–2.8 to 0.4) | –1.3 (–2.8 to 0.4) | –0.4 (–1.4 to 0.2) | –1.4 (–2.8 to 0)** | –0.3 (–2.4 to 0.4) | –1.3 (–2.8 to 0.3) | –1 (–2.4 to 0.4) | –1.3 (–2.4 to 0.1) | –1 (–2.8 to 0.4) |
| miR-30c-5p | –1.7 (–2.7 to 0.5) | –1.9 (–2.9 to 0.4) | –1.8 (–2.4 to –0.1) | –1.8 (–2.9 to 0.5) | –1.8 (–2.9 to 0.5) | –0.6 (–2 to 0.3) | –2.2 (–2.7 to –0.2)** | –0.3 (–2.9 to 0.5) | –1.8 (–2.6 to 0.4) | –1.7 (–2.9 to 0.5) | –1.7 (–2.9 to 0.4) | –1.8 (–2.7 to 0.5) |
| miR-30d-5p | –1.2 (–2.5 to 0.4) | –1.4 (–2 to 0.3) | –1.2 (–2.4 to –0.2) | –1.4 (–2.5 to 0.4) | –1.4 (–2.5 to 0.4) | –0.6 (–1.8 to –0.1) | –1.6 (–2.5 to –0.3)* | –0.6 (–2 to 0.4) | –1.4 (–2.5 to 0) | –1.1 (–2.4 to 0.4) | –1.5 (–2.1 to 0.3) | –1.1 (–2.5 to 0.4) |
| miR-30e-5p | –0.5 (–1.4 to 0.7) | –0.6 (–1 to 0.4) | –0.4 (–1 to 0.4) | –0.6 (–1.4 to 0.7) | –0.7 (–1.4 to 0.7) | 0 (–0.8 to 0.4) | –0.7 (–1.4 to 0.2)** | 0 (–1.3 to 0.7) | –0.6 (–1.4 to 0.4) | –0.4 (–1.1 to 0.7) | –0.7 (–1.1 to 0.4) | –0.4 (–1.4 to 0.7) |
| miR-124-3p | –1.9 (–3.8 to 1) | –1.3 (–2.9 to 0.4) | –1.8 (–2.9 to 0.5) | –1.7 (–3.8 to 1) | –1.8 (–3.8 to 1) | –0.8 (–2.1 to 1) | –2 (–3.8 to 0.1)* | –1 (–2.9 to 1) | –1.7 (–2.7 to 0.7) | –1.8 (–3.8 to 1) | –2 (–2.9 to 0.5) | –1.6 (–3.8 to 1) |
| miR-132-3p | 1 (–0.3 to 2.1) | 0.8 (–0.6 to 2) | 0.6 (–0.2 to 1.6) | 1.1 (–0.6 to 2) | 1.1 (–0.6 to 2.1) | 0.7 (0.3–1.8) | 1.2 (0–2.1) | 0.7 (–0.6 to 2.1) | 1.1 (–0.3 to 2.1) | 0.7 (–0.6 to 2.1) | 0.9 (–0.6 to 2.1) | 1 (–0.3 to 2.1) |
| miR-142-3p | 1.4 (–1.7 to 2.7) | 1.3 (–3.8 to 2) | 1.8 (–0.4 to 2.4) | 1.3 (–3.8 to 2.7) | 1.5 (–3.8 to 2.7)* | 0.3 (–0.4 to 1.8) | 1.5 (0.1–2.7) | 1.3 (–3.8 to 2.1) | 1.3 (–0.4 to 2.4) | 1.5 (–3.8 to 2.7) | 1.5 (–3.8 to 2.4) | 1.4 (–1.7 to 2.7) |
| miR-142-5p | 0.9 (–1.6 to 2.2) | 1.2 (–3.9 to 1.9) | 1.1 (–1.2 to 1.9) | 0.9 (–3.9 to 2.2) | 1.1 (–3.9 to 2.2)* | –0.3 (–1.2 to 1.8) | 1.3 (–0.3 to 2.2)* | 0.8 (–3.9 to 1.9) | 0.8 (–0.6 to 2.1) | 1 (–3.9 to 2.2) | 1 (–3.9 to 2.1) | 0.9 (–1.6 to 2.2) |
| miR-155-5p | 1.8 (–0.3 to 3.9) | 1.9 (–1 to 3.6) | 1.8 (–1 to 3.1) | 2 (–0.8 to 3.9) | 2.2 (–1 to 3.9) | 0.5 (0–3.1) | 2.6 (0.9–3.7)* | 0.6 (–1 to 3.9) | 2.3 (–0.4 to 3.6) | 1.8 (–1 to 3.9) | 1.7 (–1 to 3.4) | 2 (–0.4 to 3.9) |
| miR-210-3p | 0.4 (–1.2 to 3.6) | 0.6 (–1.7 to 2.7) | –0.1 (–1.7 to 2) | 0.6 (–1.2 to 3.6) | 0.6 (–1.7 to 3.6) | 0.3 (–1 to 2.3) | 0.6 (–1.7 to 2.6) | 0.4 (–1.1 to 3.6) | 0.3 (–1 to 2.7) | 0.6 (–1.7 to 3.6) | 0.6 (–0.8 to 2.6) | 0.4 (–1.7 to 3.6) |
| miR-212-3p | 1.6 (–0.7 to 3) | 1.2 (–0.1 to 3.3) | 1.1 (0–1.8) | 1.4 (–0.7 to 3.3) | 1.5 (–0.7 to 3.3) | 1 (0–2.8) | 1.8 (0.4–3)* | 1.1 (–0.7 to 3.3) | 1.8 (–0.6 to 3.3) | 1.1 (–0.7 to 3) | 1.2 (0–2.8) | 1.5 (–0.7 to 3.3) |
| miR-326 | 0.3 (–0.5 to 2.2) | 0.2 (–1.2 to 0.9) | 0.2 (–0.5 to 0.8) | 0.3 (–1.2 to 2.2) | 0.3 (–1.2 to 2.2) | 0.1 (–0.5 to 0.5) | 0.3 (–0.5 to 1.1) | 0.3 (–1.2 to 2.2) | 0.2 (–0.5 to 1.1) | 0.3 (–1.2 to 2.2) | 0.2 (–1.2 to 0.7) | 0.3 (–0.5 to 2.2) |
| miR-342-5p | 0.7 (–0.7 to 2.2) | 0.3 (–0.3 to 2) | 0.5 (–0.2 to 1.4) | 0.7 (–0.7 to 2.2) | 0.7 (–0.3 to 2.2) | 0.3 (–0.7 to 1.1) | 0.9 (0–2) | 0.3 (–0.7 to 2.2) | 0.5 (–0.7 to 2) | 0.6 (–0.3 to 2.2) | 0.2 (–0.2 to 2) | 0.7 (–0.7 to 2.2) |
| miR-511-5p | 1.2 (–1.4 to 4.4) | 1.5 (–1.7 to 3.6) | 1 (0.2–3) | 1.4 (–1.7 to 4.4) | 1.4 (–1.7 to 4.4) | 0.9 (–0.6 to 2.4) | 1.7 (–0.3 to 4.4) | 0.9 (–1.7 to 4.4) | 1.4 (–0.6 to 4.4) | 1.2 (–1.7 to 4.4) | 1.2 (–1.7 to 4.4) | 1.3 (–0.6 to 4.4) |
GCA, giant cell arteritis; MGC, multinucleated giant cell; PMR, polymyalgia rheumatica. Data are presented as median (range). Log2 fold change values are presented for each miRNA. Data were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test. Analysis was performed on a total of 46 TABs from GCA patients, including 30 TAB-positive and 16 TAB-negative GCA patients. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. An asterisk indicates significance between GCA patient groups (*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01) (marked in bold).