Assessment of the potential pathogenicity of type II collagen autoantibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Evidence of restricted IgG3 subclass expression and activation of complement C5 to C5a

Arthritis Rheum. 1986 Nov;29(11):1316-21. doi: 10.1002/art.1780291103.

Abstract

IgG subclass analysis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the autoantibody to native type II collagen, detected in 9 patients with classic or definite rheumatoid arthritis, demonstrated a predominance of IgG3 autoantibody. Gm allotyping revealed no obvious association with a particular phenotype. In comparative studies, IgG antibodies to the capsular polysaccharides of pneumococci and tetanus toxoid protein in these same patients consisted predominantly of IgG2 and IgG4. Purified type II collagen autoantibody from 3 of these patients activated complement C5 to C5a when bound to human cartilage in vitro, as measured by radioimmunoassay. These results represent direct evidence of a potential pathogenic role for this autoantibody in rheumatoid arthritis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / etiology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / immunology*
  • Autoantibodies / analysis*
  • Collagen / immunology*
  • Complement Activation*
  • Complement C5 / analysis*
  • Complement C5a
  • Cross Reactions
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis*
  • Immunoglobulin Gm Allotypes / analysis
  • Mice
  • Phenotype
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / immunology
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / immunology
  • Tetanus Toxoid / immunology

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Complement C5
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin Gm Allotypes
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • Tetanus Toxoid
  • Complement C5a
  • Collagen