Rheumatoid arthritis patients have elevated antibodies to cross-reactive and non cross-reactive antigens from Proteus microbes

T Rashid, K Jayakumar, A Binder, S Ellis, P Cunningham, A Ebringer
unpublished
and objective Although a large number of independent studies have shown a paramount role for Proteus mirabilis in the aetio-pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), this hypothesis is still controversial among rheumatologists. The main obstacle to its acceptance is the impression that increased Proteus antibodies in RA patients is a secondary phenomenon , occurring as the result of cross-reactivity between bacterial and self-antigens. To shed light on this problem, we examined the link
more » ... antibodies to various cross-reactive and non cross-reactive antigenic peptides from P. mirabilis and analysed the relationship between these antibodies and disease severity in patients with RA.
fatcat:3txpn653hvfm5hsiao4amh6yja