Project description:Despite known differences in immunologic features between anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA)-positive (ACPA+) and ACPA-negative (ACPA-) early rheumatoid arthritis (eRA) patients, our understanding is still incomplete. To address this, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of CD45+ cells from peripheral blood samples of drug-naïve ACPA+ and ACPA- eRA patients and compared distribution and functional characteristics of cell subsets based on ACPA presence.
Project description:Antigen-specific regulation of autoimmune disease is a major clinical research goal. In seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA), T cells help to autoreactive B cells matures the citrullinated antigen-specific immune response, generating RA-specific V-domain glycosylated anti-citrullinated (Cit) protein antibodies (VDG ACPA) before arthritis onset. Repeated low or escalating antigen doses administered under “sub-immunogenic” conditions generally favors tolerance. The aims of this study were to explore the safety, pharmacokinetics, immunological and clinical effects of s.c. DEN-181, comprising liposomes encapsulating self-peptide collagen II259-273 (CII) and NF-KB inhibitor 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol)
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human synovial tissue from thirteen individuals with arthralgia who were IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) and/or anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) positive and without any evidence of arthritis. Survival analysis was used to identify transcripts associated with arthritis after follow up. This study was performed to investigate the molecular changes in synovium preceding arthritis development in at risk individuals.
Project description:Citrullinated and unmodified peptides (>95% purity, ProImmune AB) were immobilized onto a chemically modified glass slide, sera from RA patients and healthy controls were applied into the reactions sites and fluorescence intensity after incubation with anti-human IgG antibody was acquired in a laser scanner. Final results for each citrullinated peptide were calculated by subtracting the intensity values of corresponding arginine containing control peptide from citrullinated peptide for all RA patients and controls.
Project description:Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) are one of the hallmarks in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the in vivo function remained unclear. To investigate the effects of ACPAs, we expressed monoclonal ACPAs derived from RA patients, and analyzed the functions in mouse models, as well as the reactivity to tissue and peptides/proteins. All ACPAs showed no arthritogenicity and could not induce pain-like behavior in mice whereas one of them (E4) profoundly protected against antibody-induced arthritis. E4 showed a tissue binding pattern restricted to skin epithelial cells, to macrophages and dendritic cells in lymphoid tissue and to cartilage from mouse and human arthritic joints. Proteomic analysis showed that E4 had a distinct binding pattern to macrophage and RA synovial fluid proteins (e.g. alpha-enolase). The protective effect was epitope specific but also dependent on Fc-FCGR2B interaction on macrophages following the immune complex formation, resulting an increased IL-10 production and osteoclastogenesis reduction. The findings suggest that certain ACPAs could be protective in arthritis with therapeutic potentials.
Project description:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory joint disease of unknown etiology and pronounced inter-patient heterogeneity. To characterize RA at the molecular level and to uncover key pathomechanisms, we performed whole-genome gene expression analyses. Synovial tissues from rheumatoid arthritis patients were compared to those from osteoarthritis patients and to normal donors. Keywords: disease state analysis
Project description:Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) are one of the hallmarks in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the in vivo function remained unclear. To investigate the effects of ACPAs, we expressed monoclonal ACPAs derived from RA patients, and analyzed the functions in mouse models, as well as the reactivity to tissue and peptides/proteins. All ACPAs showed no arthritogenicity and could not induce pain-like behavior in mice whereas one of them (E4) profoundly protected against antibody-induced arthritis. E4 showed a tissue binding pattern restricted to skin epithelial cells, to macrophages and dendritic cells in lymphoid tissue and to cartilage from mouse and human arthritic joints. Proteomic analysis showed that E4 had a distinct binding pattern to macrophage and RA synovial fluid proteins (e.g. alpha-enolase). The protective effect was epitope specific but also dependent on Fc-FCGR2B interaction on macrophages following the immune complex formation, resulting an increased IL-10 production and osteoclastogenesis reduction. The findings suggest that certain ACPAs could be protective in arthritis with therapeutic potentials.
Project description:The presence or absence of autoantibodies against citrullinated proteins (ACPAs) distinguishes two main groups of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with different etiology, prognosis, disease severity, and, presumably, disease pathogenesis. The heterogeneous responses of RA patients to various biologics, even among ACPA-positive patients, emphasize the need for further stratification of the patients. We use high-density protein array technology to evaluate ACPA reactivity. Identification of the proteome recognized by ACPAs may be a step to stratify RA patients according to immune reactivity. Methods: Pooled plasma samples from 10 anti-CCP negative and 15 anti-CCP positive RA patients were assessed for ACPA-content using a modified protein microarray containing 1,631 different natively folded proteins citrullinated in situ by protein arginine deiminases (PAD) 2 and PAD4. Results: IgG antibodies from anti-CCP positive RA plasma showed high-intensity binding to 87 proteins citrullinated by PAD2 and 99 proteins citrullinated by PAD4 without binding significantly to the corresponding native proteins. Curiously, the binding of IgG antibodies in anti-CCP-negative plasma was also enhanced by PAD2- and PAD4-mediated citrullination for 29 and 26 proteins, respectively. For only 4 proteins, significantly more ACPA-binding occurred after citrullination with PAD2 compared to citrullination with PAD4, while the opposite was true for 1 protein.
Project description:Genome-wide DNA methylation level was studied to determine whether Rheumatoid arthritis patients (cases) has methylation differences comparing to normal controls in PBLs. We used Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip array to determine the genome-wide DNA methylation difference in PBLs from Rheumatoid arthritis patients (cases) and normal controls Bisulphite converted DNA from the Rheumatoid arthritis patients (cases) and normal controls were hybridized to the Illumina Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip arrays