Ectopic lymphoid structures support ongoing production of class-switched autoantibodies in rheumatoid synovium.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Follicular structures resembling germinal centres (GCs) that are characterized by follicular dendritic cell (FDC) networks have long been recognized in chronically inflamed tissues in autoimmune diseases, including the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, it is debated whether these ectopic structures promote autoimmunity and chronic inflammation driving the production of pathogenic autoantibodies. Anti-citrullinated protein/peptide antibodies (ACPA) are highly specific markers of RA, predict a poor prognosis, and have been suggested to be pathogenic. Therefore, the main study objectives were to determine whether ectopic lymphoid structures in RA synovium: (i) express activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), the enzyme required for somatic hypermutation an

SUBMITTER: Humby F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2621263 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature