Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 31, 2026

An Adoptive Transfer Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice
07:37

An Adoptive Transfer Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice

Published on: June 6, 2025

Proteus mirabilis and rheumatoid arthritis: no association with the disease

S Chandrashekara1, M N Ramesh, A Shobha

  • 1Department of Clinical Immunology, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, MSRIT Nagar, Mathikere, Bangalore 560054, India. chrashekara_s@yahoo.com

Clinical Rheumatology
|September 25, 2003
PubMed

Insights

This study investigated the link between Proteus mirabilis (PM) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Researchers found no significant difference in anti-PM antibodies between RA patients and healthy individuals, suggesting PM infection does not play a role in RA.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Rheumatology

Background:

  • Proteus mirabilis (PM) has been suggested to contribute to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis due to molecular mimicry.
  • Specific EQRRAA sequences in the DRB 1 haplotype share homology with PM haemolysin B precursor.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare anti-PM antibody levels in RA patients versus healthy controls.
  • To determine if PM infection has a pathological or aggravating role in RA.

Main Methods:

  • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect IgG and total immunoglobulins (IgG+IgA+IgM) against PM.
  • Serum samples from 78 RA patients and 75 healthy controls were analyzed.
  • Two antigen preparations were used: whole bacteria and SDS-lysed bacterial extract.

Main Results:

  • No significant increase in anti-Proteus antibodies (APA) was observed in RA patients compared to healthy controls.
  • APA levels did not correlate with serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
  • Both whole bacteria and SDS-lysed bacterial extract yielded similar non-significant results.

Conclusions:

  • Proteus mirabilis infection does not appear to have a pathological or aggravating role in rheumatoid arthritis.
  • The study did not find evidence supporting the proposed link between PM and RA in the studied population.
  • Further research may be needed to fully elucidate the complex factors involved in RA pathogenesis.

Related Concept Videos

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS01:11

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS

Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway01:20

The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway

Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as  SH2...
T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...