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Association of Plasma CCDC88A Expression Combined with Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate with Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity: A Cross-Sectional Exploratory Study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity is assessed using composite clinical indices that combine examination findings, patient and physician‒reported assessments, and laboratory markers. Circulating RNA may provide complementary molecular information, but evidence for plasma RNA markers of current RA activity remains limited. Purpose: To identify plasma RNA transcripts associated with cross-sectional RA disease activity and to explore whether plasma RNAs concentration provides complementary discriminatory information when combined with hematological parameters. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional, two-stage study used targeted RNA sequencing to screen plasma from 25 patients with established RA and 14 healthy controls (HCs). Patients with RA were categorized as having high disease activity (HDA; DAS28-ESR > 5.1, n=13) or low disease activity/remission (LDA/remission; DAS28-ESR ≤ 3.2, n=12). The expression of the leading candidate, CCDC88A , was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in 108 plasma samples, including 78 patients with RA and 30 HCs. Results: Plasma CCDC88A expression was lower in patients with RA than in HCs (median [interquartile range], 0.55 [0.29– 0.81] vs 0.94 [0.59– 1.12]; p=0.003). For cross-sectional discrimination between moderate activity and LDA/remission, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.659 for CCDC88A , 0.746 for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and 0.785 for their combination. Conclusion: Molecular markers, when combined with peripheral blood-derived parameters, such as ESR, may potentially serve as supporting indicators of RA disease activity. Keywords: biomarkers, CCDC88A , circRNA, rheumatoid arthritis, RNA-seq

Source: Journal of Inflammation Research

DOI: 10.2147/jir.s626938

Authors: Marek Cieśla, Paweł Wołkow, Dorota Darmochwał-Kolarz, Dominika Podgórska, Bogdan Kolarz

Institution: University of Rzeszów

Language: English

Topic: Rheumatoid Arthritis Research and Therapies

Subfield: Rheumatology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,836