Association analysis of anti-Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 antibodies, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, the shared epitope and smoking status in Brazilian patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:Epstein-Barr virus exposure appears to be an environmental trigger for rheumatoid arthritis that interacts with other risk factors. Relationships among anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, the shared epitope, and smoking status have been observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis from different populations.OBJECTIVE:To perform an association analysis of anti-Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 antibodies, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, the shared epitope, and smoking status in Brazilian patients with rheumatoid arthritis.METHODS:In a case-control study, 140 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 143 healthy volunteers who were matched for age, sex, and ethnicity were recruited. Anti-Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 antibodies and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies were examined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and shared epitope alleles were identified by genotyping. Smoking information was collected from all subjects. A comparative analysis of anti-Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 antibodies, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, the shared epitope, and smoking status was performed in the patient group. Logistic regression analysis models were used to analyze the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.RESULTS:Anti-Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 antibodies were not associated with anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, shared epitope alleles, or smoking status. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody positivity was significantly higher in smoking patients with shared epitope alleles (OR = 3.82). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis using stepwise selection, only anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies were found to be independently associated with rheumatoid arthritis (OR = 247.9). CONCLUSION:Anti-Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 antibodies did not increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis and were not associated with the rheumatoid arthritis risk factors studied. Smoking and shared epitope alleles were correlated with anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide-antibody-positive rheumatoid arthritis. Of the risk factors, only anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides antibodies were independently associated with rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility.

Tabagismo: o que tem sido abordado em periódicos brasileiros

“…Case-control study involving 140 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 143 healthy volunteers showed that although smoking was not associated with rheumatoid arthritis, it was associated with the presence of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (OR: 3.82), which in turn was independently associated with rheumatoid arthritis (OR: 247.9) 17 . Moraes et al 18 in a cross-sectional study of 991 high-school students (14-18 years) in Maringá (PR), found that the prevalence of drug use was elevated and higher among smokers.…”

Epstein-Barr Virus in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis—Association and Causation

“…However, in contrast to SLE and MS, it does not seem to be any association between the titers of antibodies and risk of subsequent RA [38]. The EBV seroprevalence rate among RA patients has been found to be the same as in healthy subjects [36,39]. …”

The role of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies in early detection of rheumatoid arthritis: an overview of the INOVA Diagnostics, Inc. QUANTA Lite CCP assays

“…Viruses have been suspected to promote the onset of RA and other autoimmune diseases, and several studies have shown links between Epstein--Barr virus (EBV) and RA, with RA antibodies cross-reacting with EBV nuclear antigens (EBNA) [29]. Therefore, in a study of 140 Brazilian RA patients, Yazbek et al [30] found a trend for patients with higher levels of QUANTA Lite anti-CCP3 antibodies to carry SE alleles and these higher levels were also found in cigarette smokers. When evaluating anti-EBNA-1 antibodies, anti-CCP3 antibodies, SE status and smoking status, the presence of anti-CCP3 antibodies was the one variable associated with RA.…”