Open AccessDistinct oligosaccharide content of rheumatoid arthritis‐derived immune complexes
Author(s) -
Bond Angela,
Kerr Michael A.,
Hay Frank C.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780380605
Subject(s) - rheumatoid arthritis , immune system , oligosaccharide , immunology , immune complex , glycosylation , antibody , dot blot , medicine , autoimmune disease , chemistry , biochemistry , dna
Obective . To investigate the association between glycosylation and immune complex formation in various disease groups. Methods . Immune complexes and IgG were isolated from serum and their carbohydrate content evaluated in a dot‐blot assay using specifically binding lectins. Results . Significantly more N ‐acetylglucosamine was detected in complexes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than in those from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn's disease, or infectious endocarditis, or from normal controls ( P < 0.001). The immune complex concentration in the circulation was strongly associated with N ‐acetylglucosamine levels ( P < 0.001 by chi‐square analysis). Conclusion . The composition of immune complexes from RA patients is distinct in carbohydrate content from those found in other disease groups.