Table 5 Genes with the greatest differences in expression between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and controls

 OTUD1

OUT deubiquitinase 1: removes ubiquitin molecules with probable signaling regulatory role

1.50

0.035

 FEZ2^a

Fasciculation and elongation protein zeta 2 (zygin II): reduces autophagy [32]; associated with reduced cardiorespiratory fitness [33]

1.40

0.005

 PITX1^a

Paired-like homeodomain 1: promotes muscle atrophy [34]

1.37

0.046

 RNU4ATAC

RNA, U4atac small nuclear (U12-dependent splicing): codes for component of the minor spliceosome [35, 36]

1.36

0.045

 ABRA^a

Actin binding Rho activating protein: promotes myoblast differentiation and myotube maturation [24]

1.33

0.031

 RCAN1^a

Regulator of calcineurin 1: regulates fiber type patterning during differentiation

1.32

0.019

 CITED2^a

Cbp/p300-interacting transactivator, with Glu/Asp-rich carboxy-terminal domain, 2: promotes stem cell maintenance [22, 23]; prevents myofibril degradation [37]

1.32

0.027

 VGLL2^a

Vestigial-like family member 2: expressed in myotubes [27]

1.30

0.035

 MYF6^a

Myogenic factor 6 (herculin): promotes myoblast terminal differentiation [29]

1.27

0.033

 RPL36AL

Ribosomal protein L36a-like: ribosomal protein with ability to terminate translation in certain situations [38]

1.27

0.011

 FBP2^b

Fructose-1,6 bisphosphatase 2: promotes glycogen storage [39, 40]; protects mitochondria from Ca2+ -induced injury [41]

−1.42

0.013

 MYLK4^a

Myosin light chain kinase family, member 4: reduced expression associated with cardiomyopathies [42]

−1.37

0.024

 ZFP36^ac

ZFP36 ring finger protein; encodes tristetraprolin (TTP): reduces inflammation and prevents satellite cell activation [20]

−1.36

0.023

 DDIT4^a

DNA damage-inducible transcript 4; also known as protein regulated in development and damage response 1 (REDD-1): promotes autophagy, with reduced expression associated with exercise intolerance [43]

−1.34

0.023

 MIDN^b

Midnolin: regulates neurogenesis [44]; reduces pancreatic glycolysis in low glucose states [45]

−1.32

0.017

 SLC2A5^b

Solute carrier family 2 (facilitated glucose/fructose transporter), member 5: performs facilitative fructose uptake into muscle [46]

−1.31

0.041

 SLC25A25^b

Solute carrier family 25 (mitochondrial carrier; phosphate carrier), member 25: promotes anti-atherosclerotic macrophage ATP production [47]; promotes muscle ATP production and physical endurance [48]

−1.30

0.013

 RRAD^a

Ras-related associated with diabetes: increases myoblast proliferation and promotes myotube formation [30]

−1.30

0.044

 ZBTB16^bc

Zinc ring finger and BTB domain containing 16: suppresses autoreactive T cells and inflammation [21]; promotes adaptive thermogenesis and mitochondrial capacity [49]

−1.27

0.050

 SMTNL2

Smoothelin-like 2: associated with myotube formation [50]

−1.22

0.008