Adiponectin, an adipose-derived cytokine, is associated with inflammatory markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and these associations differ in individuals with a high-risk autoantibody profile compared with those without, a recent study found. Researchers analyzed samples from 144 first-degree relatives (FDRs) of RA probands, of whom 23 were positive for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody and/or ≥2 rheumatoid factor isotypes (IgM, IgG, or IgA). This phenotype was classified as a “high risk autoantibody profile (HRP)” as it has been shown in prior work to be >96% specific for future RA. They measured adiponectin, cytokines, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). They found:

• In everyone, adiponectin concentration was inversely associated with hsCRP and IL-1β in adjusted models, where a 1% higher adiponectin was associated with a 26% lower hsCRP and a 26% lower IL-1β.
• Significant interactions between HRP and adiponectin for associations with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-6, and IL-9 were detected in fully adjusted models.
• In HRP positive FDRs but not HRP negative FDRs, a 1% higher adiponectin was associated with 97% higher GM-CSF, 73% higher IL-6, and 54% higher IL-9 concentrations.