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Autoantibodies against citrullinated histone H3 in rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis patients
Author(s) -
Janssen Koen M. J.,
Smit Menke J.,
Withaar Coenraad,
Brouwer Elisabeth,
Winkelhoff Arie J.,
Vissink Arjan,
Westra Johanna
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/jcpe.12727
Subject(s) - autoantibody , medicine , rheumatoid arthritis , periodontitis , histone h3 , histone , citrullination , immunology , antibody , arthritis , citrulline , biology , biochemistry , arginine , amino acid , gene
Abstract Aim To determine the presence of citrullinated histones in inflamed periodontal tissue and to determine the presence of anti‐citrullinated histone autoantibodies in sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) and periodontitis ( PD ) patients. Methods The presence of citrullinated histone H3, PAD 4 and CD 68 was determined in 15 periodontal tissue biopsies from PD patients by immunohistochemistry. Sera from 36 healthy controls ( HC ), 113 PD patients and 84 patients with RA were assessed on presence of autoantibodies against citrullinated histones by Western blot and against citrullinated histone H3 by ELISA . Results Citrullinated histone H3, PAD 4 and CD 68 were present in periodontal tissue from nine (60%), 14 (93%) and 13 (87%) PD patients, respectively. Anti‐citrullinated histone H3 autoantibodies were found in 33 (39%) patients with RA compared to three (8%) HC and 11 (10%) PD patients. Anti‐citrullinated histone H3 levels were higher in anti‐cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti‐ CCP )‐positive compared to anti‐ CCP ‐negative patients with RA ( p = .0008) and correlated moderately with anti‐ CCP levels (ρ = .22). No associations were found between anti‐citrullinated histone H3 levels and periodontal status or smoking behaviour of patients with RA . Conclusion PD patients are exposed to citrullinated histone H3 in inflamed periodontal tissue. Citrullinated histone H3 is targeted by autoantibodies present in RA sera. This supports a role for periodontitis in generation of antigens targeted by autoantibodies directed against citrullinated proteins.