Monoclonal IgG antibodies generated from joint-derived B cells of RA patients have a strong bias toward citrullinated autoantigen recognition.

ABSTRACT: Antibodies targeting citrullinated proteins (ACPAs [anticitrullinated protein antibodies]) are commonly found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), strongly associate with distinct HLA-DR alleles, and predict a more aggressive disease course as compared with seronegative patients. Still, many features of these antibodies, including their site of production and the extent of MHC class II-driven T cell help, remain unclarified. To address these questions, we have used a single B cell-based cloning technology to isolate and express immunoglobulin (Ig) genes from joint-derived B cells of active RA patients. We found ∼25% of synovial IgG-expressing B cells to be specific for citrullinated autoantigens in the investigated ACPA(+) RA patients, whereas such antibodies were not found in ACPA(

SUBMITTER: Amara K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3600900 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature