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Cellular sensitivity to collagen in rheumatoid arthritis
Transactions of the Association of American Physicians
|January 1, 1978
Summary
Researchers found that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) exhibit cellular sensitivity to specific collagen types (II and III), unlike those with other forms of arthritis. This suggests a potential role for collagen in RA pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis involves lymphocytes responding to persistent antigenic stimuli.
- Collagen has been previously hypothesized as a potential autoantigen in RA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cellular sensitivities to different types of human collagen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
- To determine if collagen sensitivity is specific to RA compared to other arthritic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an assay to measure antigen-induction of lymphocyte mediator, LIF.
- Assessed cellular responses to native human types I, II, and III collagens.
- Compared responses in RA patients to those with osteoarthritis, crystalline-induced synovitis, and HLA-B27 associated arthropathies.
Main Results:
- Three-quarters of 50 RA patients showed cellular sensitivity to types II and III collagens.
- No cellular response to type I collagen was detected in RA patients.
- Cellular reactivity to collagen was absent in 41 patients with other types of arthritis.
Conclusions:
- Cellular sensitivities to types II and III collagens are specific to rheumatoid arthritis.
- Given tissue distribution, these collagen types may play a role in RA pathogenesis.
- Findings support the hypothesis of collagen acting as an autoantigen in rheumatoid arthritis.