Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and disability. The connection between RA and cardiovascular (CV) disease is still being studied. This research aims to explore the relationship between CV-related microRNAs, inflammation, and glycosylated proteins to understand RA's inflammatory pathophysiology concerning CV disease. The study included 219 RA patients, 82 with metabolic disorders, and 64 controls. Clinical evaluations and blood samples were collected. Quantification of microRNAs (Let7a, 24, 96, 103, 125a, 125b, 132, 146, 191, 223, 425, 451) and measurement of glycoproteins (GlycA, GlycB, GlycF) using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H-NMR) were performed. Multivariate linear models were applied. RA patients showed higher glycoprotein levels than those with metabolic disorders and controls. Significant associations between miRNAs 24, 451, Let7a and glycoprotein levels were found in RA patients, particularly in women. Glycoprotein levels were positively correlated with inflammatory markers, highlighting their role in indicating RA severity. This study highlights elevated glycoprotein levels in RA patients, indicating a severe inflammatory pattern. Moreover, glycoproteins were highly associated with CV-disease-related miRNAs, indicating that glycoproteins are involved in both inflammation and CV disease. Finally, the inflammatory profile of glycoproteins was validated as they were highly associated with inflammatory markers of RA.