Upregulated expression of FFAR2 and SOC3 genes is associated with gout

Orji, Oliver C; López-Domínguez, Maria B; Sandoval-Plata, Gabriela; Guetta-Baranes, Tamar; Valdes, Ana M; Doherty, Michael; Morgan, Kevin; Abhishek, Abhishek

Abstract

Objective To examine the expression of Free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFAR2) and Suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS3) genes in asymptomatic hyperuricaemia (AH), AH with MSU crystal deposition, inter-critical gout and gout flare.

Methods Study participants (n = 120) comprised 34 people with serum urate (SU) <360 μmol/l, 69 with AH ± MSU crystal deposition and 17 with a gout flare. Sixteen of the 17 patients with a gout flare attended a second visit 6–12 weeks later. Gene expression levels were assessed using RT-qPCR and results computed as fold changes (FC) after normalization to the reference gene.

Results FFAR2 was significantly upregulated during gout flares (FC = 2.9) compared with normal SU, AH, and AH + MSU crystal deposition (FC = 1.1, P &amp;lt; 0.0001 for each comparison). FFAR2 was also significantly upregulated during inter-critical gout (FC = 1.8) compared with normal SU, AH and AH + MSU (FC = 1.1, P < 0.001 for each comparison). SOCS3 was significantly upregulated during gout flares (FC = 3.4) compared with normal SU, AH, and AH + MSU crystal deposition (FC = 1.1, 1.1 and 1.2, respectively, P < 0.0001 for each comparison). SOCS3 was also upregulated during inter-critical gout (FC = 2.1) compared with normal SU (P = 0.02) and AH (P = 0.006) (FC = 1.1 and 1.2, respectively). FFAR2 expression was upregulated during gout flare compared with inter-critical gout and SOCS3 expression showed negative correlation with flare duration (r = –0.49, P < 0.05).

Conclusion FFAR2 upregulation is associated with gout and may trigger gout flares. SOCS3 may have a role in amelioration of gout flares.

Citation

Orji, O. C., López-Domínguez, M. B., Sandoval-Plata, G., Guetta-Baranes, T., Valdes, A. M., Doherty, M., Morgan, K., & Abhishek, A. (2023). Upregulated expression of FFAR2 and SOC3 genes is associated with gout. Rheumatology, 62(2), 977-983. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keac360

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 14, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jun 22, 2022
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Deposit Date: Jul 7, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 23, 2023
• Journal: Rheumatology
• Print ISSN: 1462-0324
• Electronic ISSN: 1462-0332
• Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 62
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 977-983
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keac360
• Keywords: Pharmacology (medical), Rheumatology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/8853888
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/rheumatology/article/62/2/977/6613128