Please find below a glossary of terms you might come across in your role as patient research partner. This glossary was originally developed for the EuroTEAM project but is useful in a whole host of projects. We will aim to update it with additional terms in the near future.
Acetylation
Protein modification
ACPA - Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibodies
These antibodies bind proteins which contain citrulline. Patients with ACPA tend to have RA (though not all RA patients have ACPA)
Allele
One of a number of alternative forms of the same gene
ALS - Ankylosing Spondylitis
Chronic arthritis of the spine
Anti-CARP antibodies – Anti Carbamylated Protein
An autoantibody against carbamylated proteins, which can present itself years before RA is diagnosed
Anti-CCP - cyclic citrullinated peptides
Used to detect ACPA in serum / plasma
Antigen
A substance which causes the immune system to produce antibodies
Arthralgia
Joint pain
Assays
An investigative procedure conducted in a laboratory setting
Autoantibodies
Antibodies that attack healthy tissue
BAL – Bronchoalveolar lavage
A medical procedure where fluid is squirted into the lungs and collected for testing / examination
Ca-FCS – Carbamylated fetal calf serum
Blood that remains after clotting has taken place
Carbamylation
An acidic reaction, producing ureas, or carbamides
Chip typing
A method of analysing proteins in DNA
Chrondrocytes
Healthy cells, found in cartilage
Citrulline
An amino acid, often detectable in the antibodies of RA patients
Cognitive behavioural strategies
A talking therapy that helps individuals to overcome difficulties by encouraging changes in the way they think and behave
Cortical bone
The exterior of a bone
Cytokines
Cell signalling proteins
Cytomtry
A method of measuring parameters / numbers of cells
DMARD – Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs
Such as methotrexate
Down regulation
A decrease of a cellular component
Epigenetics
The study of factors which control gene expression and which can be inherited as cells divide. These include factors which bind tightly to the DNA sequence and determine whether the DNA is turned on or off.
Epitope
Part of an antigen recognised by the immune system
Exome sequencing
A method of sequencing long DNA strands
EULAR
The European League Against Rheumatism (www.eular.org)
EULAR PARE - People with Arthritis / Rheumatism Across Europe
Patient action group
Extra-articular
The area surrounding a joint
Fibrin
Blood clotting protein
Fibroblasts
Active cells in connective tissue
First degree relative
A close blood relative, such as a parent, sibling or child
Gene expression
The process by which the genetic code is used to direct protein synthesis and produce cell structure
Genome
Genetic material which includes the genes and non-coding DNA
Genotypes
Entire set of genes within a cell
Glycosylation
A reaction that occurs when carbohydrates are attached to proteins
GWAS – Genome Wide Association Study
The examination of common genetic variants in different individuals (usually those with a certain disease and healthy controls)
Histones
Alkaline proteins in DNA
HLA – Human Leukocyte Antigen
The immune system uses HLAs to differentiate between self cells and non-self (or invader) cells
HSPs – Heat Shock Proteins
Proteins that increase their expression in exposure to high temperatures
IgM-RF – Immunoglobin Rheumatoid Factor
An RA autoantibody
Illumina
A system used to analyse genetic variations and biological functions
IL8 – Interleukin 8
A signalling protein which acts as a pro-inflammatory mediator
Immunohistochemistry
The detection of antigens in tissue, using antibodies as reagents (a substance that is added to a tissue to determine if any chemical reaction occurs)
JIA – Junior Idiopathic Arthritis
Arthritis which starts in individuals before they reach the age of 16
Lipid mediator
Chemical messengers that are released when tissue is injured
LNSCs – Lymph Node Stromal Cells
Connective tissue in the lymph nodes
Locus
The location of a gene or chromosome in a DNA sequence
LoF – Loss of Function
A mutation which results in a gene having little or no function
Longitudinal study
Repeated observational study of samples which takes place over a long period of time
Lymphocyte
A type of white blood cell
Mass spectrometry
A process which allows the measurement of molecule characteristics
Metabolites
The molecules produced during the metabolism process
Metabolomics
The study of chemical processes in metabolites
Metacarpophalangeal joints
Finger joints
Methylation
The introduction of a methyl (derived from methane) to cells
Micro CT
3D X-rays
MicroRNAs
Small non-coding RNA molecules
Mini arthroscopy
Keyhole joint surgery
MMP1 – Matrix Metalloproteinase 1
An enzyme involved in the disease process of arthritis
Monocytes
A type of white blood cell
MTA – Material Transfer Agreement
A contract outlining the details of samples to be shared between organisations for research purposes
NIMA – Non Inherited Maternal Antigen
Protective effects in RA, which are transmitted to babies in utero
NMR – Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Used in medical imaging procedures, such as MRI scans
Osteitis
Bone inflammation
Osteoarthritis
Joint inflammation
Osteoblast
Cellular components of bone
Osteoclast
Cells that re-absorb bone
Pathogenesis / pathogenetic
The cause of a disease
Periodontal
Relating to the gums
Phenotypes
Traits / characteristics of an organism
PLSDA – Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis
A form of statistical analysis
PRP – Patient Research Partner
A patient who works with researchers to help them understand the perspective and wishes of patients with a particular disease
PsA – Psoriatic Arthritis
Inflammation of the joints and skin
qPCR - quantitative polymerase chain reaction
DNA amplification technology
RANKL - Receptor Activator of Nuclear factor Kappa-B Ligand
A protein controlling bone regeneration
Rare variant
A gene mutation
RASF – Rheumatoid Arthritis Synovial Fibroblasts
Cells in the joint tissue of individuals with RA
Rituximab
A biological DMARD for RA patients
Seronegative
The results of a blood test, looking for rheumatoid factors, which come back negative. However, the individual could still develop RA in the future.
Seropositive
The results of a blood test, looking for rheumatoid factors, which come back positive. A seropositive individual is more likely than a seronegative individual to develop RA.
SIRT6 – Sirtuin 6
Proteins which regulate biological pathways
Sjögren’s Syndrome
An autoimmune disease, affecting the saliva and tear glands.
SNPs – Single Nucleotide Polymorphism
A DNA sequence variation, occurring commonly in a population in which a single nucleotide in the genome differs between members of a biological species or paired chromosomes.
Stromal
Connective tissue (e.g. a fibroblast)
Synovial
Of a moveable joint
Synovitis
Inflammation of the synovium
Synovium
The soft tissue surrounding a moveable joint
T cells
White blood cells that mediate immunity
TNFα – Tumor Nucrosis Factor Alpha
Proteins which regulate immune cells
Trabecular bone
The interior of a bone
Transcriptomic
Assessing the safety of drugs in biomarker discovery
Vimentin
A protein encoded by the VIM gene, used as a biomarker for colon, gastric and breast cancer
WGS – Whole Genome Shotgun
A method of sequencing long DNA strands
Wnt – Wingless related integration site
Protein pathways that send signals from the outside of a cell to the inside