Different Hierarchies of Anti-Modified Protein Autoantibody Reactivities in Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Objective. Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) are a hallmark of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Yet, the precise disease-relevant autoantigens that are targeted by ACPAs remains a matter of debate. This study utilized patient-derived monoclonal ACPAs, rather than serum autoantibody analysis, to characterize the multireactivity to different protein modifications and to reveal autoantibody subsets in patients with RA. Methods. Twelve human monoclonal ACPAs (positive by the second-generation cyclic citrullinated peptide test) were generated from 6 RA patients, and a head-to-head comparison of their reactivities was performed. For profiling, we used a complementary DNA-based protein array (Engine GmbH) and 3 peptide-screening platforms with RA autoantigens (Thermo Fisher Scientific), citrullinated and carbamylated peptides (NimbleGen/Roche), or histonederived peptides with different posttranslational modifications (JPT Histone Code), covering >207,000 peptides (>7,800 gene products). Results. The fine-specificity profiles of the investigated ACPAs varied, but all of the monoclonal ACPAs displayed multireactivity to a large number of citrullinated peptides/proteins, each characterized by specific binding properties. ACPA subsets could be defined by clone-distinct consensus binding motifs (e.g., Cit-Gly, Gly-Cit, or Arg-Cit-Asp), with the most common ACPA recognition being that of a Gly in the +1 flanking position, but with additional amino acid preferences. For ACPA protein recognition, we observed a preference for citrullinated RNA-binding proteins with high Arg/Gly content. Six of the 12 ACPA clones also bound acetylated-lysine (KAc) or homocitrulline peptide motifs, displaying a similar affinity or higher apparent affinity than that for Cit peptides. Conclusion. ACPAs and anti-modified protein autoantibodies represent overlapping facets of RA autoimmunity and bind to a wide variety of modified proteins, extending well beyond the historically recognized set of RA autoantigens. So far, KAc reactivity has been detected only in the context of anti-Carb and anti-Cit peptide autoantibody responses, postulating the existence of hierarchies of autoreactivity in RA. Future investigations of ACPA fine specificities and functionality should take into consideration the presence of consensus Cit/Carb/KAc motifs and the multireactivity of these autoantibodies in patients with RA.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reumatologi och inflammation (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Rheumatology and Autoimmunity (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)