Crosstalk between tumor necrosis factor-alpha signaling and aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling in nuclear factor –kappa B activation: A possible molecular mechanism underlying the reduced efficacy of TNF-inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis by smoking

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ObjectivesTo examine the influence of smoking on biologics treatment against different therapeutic targets, such as TNFα, IL-6, and T cell, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism. MethodsThe association between drug-discontinuation due to poor therapeutic response and smoking status was analyzed individually in biologics against different therapeutic targets by a multivariable logistic regression analysis using the “NinJa” Registry, one of the largest cohorts of Japanese RA patients. In vitro enhancement of TNFα-induced NF-κB activation and subsequent proinflammatory cytokine production by cigarette chemical components was examined by RT-PCR, qPCR, ELISA, and western blotting using an immortalized rheumatoid synovial cell line, MH7A. ResultsThe rate of drug-discontinuation due to poor therapeutic response was higher in the current smoking group than in the never- or ever-smoking groups (the odds ratio of current/never smoking: 2.189, 95%CI; 1.305–3.672,P = 0.003; current/ever: 1.580, 95%CI; 0.879–2.839,P = 0.126) in the TNF inhibitor (TNFi) treatment group. However, this tendency was not observed in either the IL-6 or T cell inhibitor treatment groups. Cigarette smoke chemical components, such as benzo[α]pyrene, known as aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands, themselves activated NF-κB and induced proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1β and IL-6. Furthermore, they also significantly enhanced TNFα-induced NF-κB activation and proinflammatory cytokine production. This enhancement was dominantly inhibited by Bay 11-7082, an NF-κB inhibitor. ConclusionsThese results suggest a crosstalk between TNFα signaling and AhR signaling in NF-κB activation which may constitute one of the molecular mechanisms underlying the higher incidence of drug-discontinuation in RA patients undergoing TNFi treatment with smoking habits.