Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by a progressive joint damage due to largely unknown environmental factors acting in concert with risk alleles conferring genetic susceptibility. A major role has been attributed to viral infections that include past contacts with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and, more recently, to non-protein coding sequences of human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) integrated in the human genome. Molecular mimicry between viral and self proteins is supposed to cause the loss of immune tolerance in predisposed hosts. There are evidences that anti-IL-2 antibodies (Abs) are present in subjects affected by autoimmune diseases and may be responsible for alterations in regulatory T cell responses. In this study, we evaluated the levels of Abs against IL-2, viral epitopes and interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) in 140 RA patients and 137 healthy controls (HCs). Ab reactivity reached the highest levels for IRF5, EBV and IL-2 (56%, 44% and 39%, respectively) in RA with significantly lower values among HCs (7–9%,p<  0.0001), which suggests a possible cross-reaction between IRF5/EBV homologous antigens and shifts in T cell balance disrupted by anti-IL-2 Abs.

Rheumatoid arthritis patient antibodies highly recognize IL-2 in the immune response pathway involving IRF5 and EBV antigens / Bo, Marco; Niegowska, Magdalena; Erre, Gian Luca; Piras, Marco; Longu, Maria Giovanna; Manchia, Pierangela; Manca, Mario; Passiu, Giuseppe; Sechi, Leonardo Antonio. - In: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. - ISSN 2045-2322. - 8:1(2018), pp. 1-8. [10.1038/s41598-018-19957-z]

Rheumatoid arthritis patient antibodies highly recognize IL-2 in the immune response pathway involving IRF5 and EBV antigens

Bo, Marco;Niegowska, Magdalena;Erre, Gian Luca;Piras, Marco;Manca, Mario;Passiu, Giuseppe;Sechi, Leonardo Antonio
2018-01-01

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by a progressive joint damage due to largely unknown environmental factors acting in concert with risk alleles conferring genetic susceptibility. A major role has been attributed to viral infections that include past contacts with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and, more recently, to non-protein coding sequences of human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) integrated in the human genome. Molecular mimicry between viral and self proteins is supposed to cause the loss of immune tolerance in predisposed hosts. There are evidences that anti-IL-2 antibodies (Abs) are present in subjects affected by autoimmune diseases and may be responsible for alterations in regulatory T cell responses. In this study, we evaluated the levels of Abs against IL-2, viral epitopes and interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) in 140 RA patients and 137 healthy controls (HCs). Ab reactivity reached the highest levels for IRF5, EBV and IL-2 (56%, 44% and 39%, respectively) in RA with significantly lower values among HCs (7–9%,p<  0.0001), which suggests a possible cross-reaction between IRF5/EBV homologous antigens and shifts in T cell balance disrupted by anti-IL-2 Abs.
2018
Rheumatoid arthritis patient antibodies highly recognize IL-2 in the immune response pathway involving IRF5 and EBV antigens / Bo, Marco; Niegowska, Magdalena; Erre, Gian Luca; Piras, Marco; Longu, Maria Giovanna; Manchia, Pierangela; Manca, Mario; Passiu, Giuseppe; Sechi, Leonardo Antonio. - In: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. - ISSN 2045-2322. - 8:1(2018), pp. 1-8. [10.1038/s41598-018-19957-z]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11388/200490
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