Carbamylation of vimentin is inducible by smoking and represents an independent autoantigen in rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Smoking has been connected to citrullination of antigens and formation of anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPAs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since smoking can modify proteins by carbamylation (formation of homocitrulline), this study was conducted to investigate these effects on vimentin in animal models and RA.

Methods

The efficiency of enzymatic carbamylation of vimentin was characterised. B-cell response was investigated after immunisation of rabbits with different vimentin isoforms. Effects of tobacco smoke exposure on carbamylation of vimentin and formation of autoantibodies were analysed in mice. The antibody responses against isoforms of vimentin were characterised with respect to disease duration and smoking status of patients with RA.

Results<

SUBMITTER: Ospelt C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5530349 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature