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Periodontitis in RA-the citrullinated enolase connection.
- Source :
-
Nature Reviews Rheumatology . Dec2010, Vol. 6 Issue 12, p727-730. 4p. 3 Diagrams. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by an antibody response to citrullinated proteins. Two of the risk factors for RA-HLA-DRB1 shared epitope alleles and smoking-are also associated with periodontitis, which is largely, but not exclusively, caused by Porphyromonas gingivalis infection. Furthermore, RA and periodontitis have a similar pathophysiology, characterized by destructive inflammation. The citrullination of proteins by P. gingivalis and the subsequent generation of autoantigens that drive autoimmunity in RA represents a possible causative link between these two diseases. Antibodies directed towards the immunodominant epitope of human citrullinated α-enolase cross-react with a conserved sequence on citrullinated P. gingivalis enolase. On the basis of this cross-reactivity, in this Perspectives article we explore the hypothesis of molecular mimicry in the etiology of RA, with citrullinated enolase as the specific antigen involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17594790
- Volume :
- 6
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Nature Reviews Rheumatology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 56666056
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2010.139