Subject terms
rheumatoid arthritis, RA
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, PROLIFERATION, INFLAMMATION, DNA DAMAGE, DISEASE, DISEASE, PATHOGENESIS
The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by a Th17/Treg cell imbalance. A pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu that promotes the continued proliferation of Th17 cells is related to the development of autoinflammation. In RA, T cells have several hallmarks of cellular aging, and they accumulate DNA damage, predisposing to the occurrence of mutations and epigenetic alterations. Since the onset, progression, and treatment response are influenced by a variety of external stressors and environmental factors, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of 8-week yoga practice on disease severity, T cell subsets, markers of T cell ageing and inflammation, epigenetic alterations and gene expression patterns in active RA patients on standard disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). A total of 64 participants with active RA were randomized into 2 groups, yoga group (n = 32) or non-yoga group (n = 32); that were assessed for disease severity, at baseline and after 8 week duration, for Disease Activity Score (DAS28-ESR), T cell subsets [Th17 (CD3+ CD4+ IL17+ RORγt+) cells and Treg (CD3+ CD4+ CD25+ CD127-Foxp3+) cells], markers of T cell aging [aged Th17 cells (CD3+ CD4+ IL17+ RORγt+ CD28−) and aged Treg cells (CD3+ CD4+ CD25+ CD127-Foxp3+ CD28−)], pro-inflammatory markers [IL-6, and IL-17], anti-inflammatory markers [TGF-β, and IL-10], epigenetic alterations [5-methyl cytosine, 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine, and HDAC1] and gene expression patterns [