Serum and synovial fluid IgG, IgA and IgM antigammaglobulins in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Antigammaglobulins, or rheumatoid factors, can be demonstrated in the sera of the majority of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by the agglutination of sensitized sheep red blood cells, bentonite, or latex particles coated with gammaglobulin (1-3). These tests provide only a semiquan- titative estimate of the amount of antigammaglobulins present and do not indicate the distribution of the antigammaglobulins among the different immunoglobulin classes.Rheumatoid factors (RF) were first described as 19s yM globulins (4, 5). Later RF were reco<gnized among lower molecular weight proteins (6-9) and as intermediate complexes (6,7,9). Subsequently RF were identified among YG and yA globulins (10-16).The presence of RF, as measured by agglutination tests and presumed to r e p resent IgM antibodies, has been associated with an unremitting disease course (17, 18), the occurrence of subcutaneous nodules (17-19), limited functional capacity (17, 18), radiologic evidence of joint destruction (18, 20), and diminished serum (20, 21) and synovial fluid (20,22) complement levels. IgG and IgA antigammaglobulins, however, have not been clearly associated with these clinical manifestations of RA (11, 15).The purpose of this study was to quanti-

Lymphoid Chemokine B Cell-Attracting Chemokine-1 (CXCL13) Is Expressed in Germinal Center of Ectopic Lymphoid Follicles Within the Synovium of Chronic Arthritis Patients

“…PCs in RA synovium have been reported to synthesize high amounts of Igs, including rheumatoid factor, which is thought to participate in the pathogenesis of tissue damage (6,(15)(16)(17). Moreover, rheumatoid synoviocytes are reported to support the terminal differentiation of B cells into mature PCs in vitro (18).…”

Guinea pigs with inherited deficiencies of complement components C2 or C4 have characteristics of immune complex disease.

“…Although these animals have no overt clinical symptoms, we tested the sera ofthese genetically C-deficient guinea pigs for serologic abnormalities in order to determine whether they are predisposed to autoimmunity. In particular, we tested for circulating immune complexes, antibodies against complement proteins, and socalled rheumatoid factors, which is a collective term for immunoglobulins of the IgM or IgG class specific for antigenetic determinants on homologous or heterologous aggregated IgG (6,(8)(9)(10)(11)(12). We also determined levels of serum IgM, IgG, and Receivedfor publication 4 December 1985 and in revisedform 26 March 1986.…”

Metabolism of c4 and factor b in rheumatoid arthritis

“…The ability of IgG RF to activate complement is less certain. Panush et a1 (19) have reported weak inverse relations between hemolytic complement and IgG-and IgM-RF measured in radial immunodiffusion assays. Pope et al (20) could not show activation of complement with dimers or tetramers of IgG RF.…”