Abstract | OBJECTIVE: METHODS: Anti-VCP antibodies were determined in 627 serum samples, 300 from patients with RA and 327 from controls, including connective tissue diseases, chronic arthritides, and healthy donors. Among patients with RA, a possible correlation with systemic involvement, disease severity, and disease activity was investigated; in 94 RA patients antibodies to cyclic citrullinated protein ( anti-CCP) were also measured. RESULTS: Anti-VCP antibodies were found in 45% of RA sera versus less than 5% of controls; anti-VCP levels correlated with anti-CCP levels (p < 0.0001), rheumatoid factor (p = 0.02), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p = 0.0058). No correlation was found with extraarticular manifestations of the disease or with disease severity. CONCLUSION: Anti-VCP antibodies are helpful in discriminating RA from other chronic arthritides or connective tissue disorders. The level of positivity is positively correlated with the anti-CCP level, suggesting that VCP can be considered a novel substrate to detect anti-citrullinated peptide/ protein antibodies (ACPA). The reactivity of RA-specific antibodies with a viral citrullinated antigen raises questions on the role of EBV in the induction of ACPA.
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Authors | Consuelo Anzilotti, Giuseppina Merlini, Federico Pratesi, Cristina Tommasi, Daniele Chimenti, Paola Migliorini |
Journal | The Journal of rheumatology
(J Rheumatol)
Vol. 33
Issue 4
Pg. 647-51
(Apr 2006)
ISSN: 0315-162X [Print] Canada |
PMID | 16511941
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Antibodies, Antinuclear
- Antibodies, Viral
- Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens
- Peptides, Cyclic
- cyclic citrullinated peptide
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Antibodies, Antinuclear
(blood)
- Antibodies, Viral
(immunology)
- Arthritis, Rheumatoid
(immunology, virology)
- Epstein-Barr Virus Infections
(complications, immunology)
- Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens
(chemistry, immunology)
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Peptides, Cyclic
(immunology)
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