N-Linked Glycans in the Variable Domain of IgG Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibodies Predict the Development of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) are disease-specific biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). More than 90% of IgG ACPAs harbor N-linked glycans in the antibody variable (V) domain. The corresponding N-glycosylation sites in ACPA V-region sequences result from somatic hypermutation, a T cell-dependent process. As ample evidence indicates that T cells drive the maturation of the ACPA response prior to arthritis onset, we undertook this study to investigate whether the presence of glycans in IgG ACPA V domains predicts the transition from predisease autoimmunity to overt RA.

Methods

We analyzed 2 independent sets of serum samples obtained from 126 ACPA-positive first-degree relatives (FDRs) of RA patients. Both sets originated from an Indigenous North A

SUBMITTER: Hafkenscheid L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6790576 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature