9G4 expression on autoantibodies to citrullinated peptides in patients with early inflammatory arthritis and established rheumatoid arthritis. (22nd February 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moura, Rita A; de la Torre, Inmaculada; Leandro, Maria J; Edwards, Jonathan C W; Fonseca, João E; Cambridge, Geraldine
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 71(2012)Supplement 1
• Page Start: A24
• Page End: A25
• Publication Date: 2012-02-22
• Subjects: Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-201231.15
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The rat monoclonal antibody 9G4 recognises VH4-34-encoded proteins, enabling the identification of inherently autoreactive B cells. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), evidence for a humoral immune response encoded by VH4-34 gene has been described in the synovial membrane and within hybridomas derived from rheumatoid synovial tissue. The authors have recently described an expansion of circulating 9G4 + plasmablasts in patients with active RA. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether 9G4+ was expressed on autoantibodies commonly associated with RA. Materials and methods: Serum from 27 patients with established RA and 46 polyarthritis patients (<6 weeks duration) of whom 23/46 were subsequently diagnosed with RA (Early RA, ERA) and 23/46 with other arthritis (early non-RA, ENRA) was studied. 9G4 expression on anti-CCP, antitetanus toxoid (TT), pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PCP) antibodies and total serum IgG and IgM was measured by ELISA. Results: 23/27 patients with established RA had anti-CCP antibodies, in which eight expressed 9G4. All were positive for both IgM and IgG anti-CCP. Levels of 9G4 expression correlated more closely with IgM than IgG-CCP. In ERA group, 15/23 patients had anti-CCP and 4/23 had 9G4+ anti-CCP. All 4 patients had both IgM and IgG anti-CCP. In ENRA, only one patient had 9G4+ IgM anti-CCP, albeit at low titre. 9G4 was not expressed on TT or PCP antibodies. Conclusions: The authors describe the use of the VH4-34 heavy chain gene by autoantibodies to citrullinated peptides early after RA onset. In established RA, usage of VH4-34 by anti-CCP antibodies increased with increasing titre, particularly in IgM-CCP. Therefore, it is possible that the expansion of CCP-specific B cell clones may be due to robust expansion of un-switched B cell clones, possibly including or analogous to those in the splenic marginal zone. This is the first description of the use of the VH4-34 heavy chain gene by autoantibodies to citrullinated peptides. 9G4 expression was largely confined to CCP antibodies from patients with RA.