Autoantibodies to human citrullinated fibrinogen and their subfamilies to the α36-50Cit and β60-74Cit fibrin peptides similarly predict radiographic damages: a prospective study in the French ESPOIR cohort of very early arthritides

Martin Cornillet; Soufiane Ajana; Adeline Ruyssen-Witrand; Arnaud Constantin; Yannick Degboé; Alain Cantagrel; Olivier Meyer; Guy Serre; Leonor Nogueira

doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kew014

Autoantibodies to human citrullinated fibrinogen and their subfamilies to the α36-50Cit and β60-74Cit fibrin peptides similarly predict radiographic damages: a prospective study in the French ESPOIR cohort of very early arthritides

Rheumatology (Oxford). 2016 Oct;55(10):1859-1870. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kew014. Epub 2016 Mar 8.

Authors

Martin Cornillet¹, Soufiane Ajana², Adeline Ruyssen-Witrand³, Arnaud Constantin³, Yannick Degboé³, Alain Cantagrel³, Olivier Meyer⁴, Guy Serre¹, Leonor Nogueira⁵

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of "Epidermis Differentiation and Rheumatoid Autoimmunity", UMR CNRS 5165, INSERM U 1056, Toulouse University, Laboratory of Cell Biology and Cytology, University Hospital of Toulouse.
² Laboratory of "Epidermis Differentiation and Rheumatoid Autoimmunity", UMR CNRS 5165, INSERM U 1056, Toulouse University.
³ Rheumatology Centre, University Hospital of Toulouse, Toulouse and.
⁴ Rheumatology Centre APHP, Bichat Hospital, Paris, France.
⁵ Laboratory of "Epidermis Differentiation and Rheumatoid Autoimmunity", UMR CNRS 5165, INSERM U 1056, Toulouse University, Laboratory of Cell Biology and Cytology, University Hospital of Toulouse, Nogueira.l@chu-toulouse.fr.

PMID: 26961744
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kew014

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether subfamilies of the RA-specific autoantibodies to human citrullinated fibrinogen (AhFibA) differentially associate with the RA risk factors, HLA-DRB1 shared epitope containing alleles (SE alleles) and cigarette smoking, and thus help to predict the disease outcome.

Methods: AhFibA and their anti-α36-50Cit and anti-β60-74Cit subfamilies were assayed by ELISA, at baseline, in the French ESPOIR (Etude et Suivi des Polyarthrites Indifférenciées Récentes) cohort composed of undifferentiated arthritides and RA patients of < 6 months' duration. Cigarette smoking, SE alleles' presence, DAS28, HAQ and modified Sharp-van der Heijde Score data were obtained at baseline, and after follow-up.

Results: After 3 years, 701 patients were classified as having RA according to the ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria. Among them, 349 (50%), 203 (29%) and 257 (37%) were AhFibA-, anti-α36-50Cit- and anti-β60-74Cit-positive, respectively. The presence and titres of AhFibA and their subfamilies similarly associated with SE alleles, irrespective of their fine specificity, without significant effect of smoking. Neither their presence nor their titre was associated with DAS28 or HAQ. The presence of at least one subfamily was associated with a faster Sharp/van der Heijde score progression, albeit without correlation with the titre.

Conclusion: AhFibA and their main subfamilies are similarly associated with SE alleles without additional effect of smoking. Whatever their fine specificity was, their presence (but not their titre) similarly constituted a marker of faster joint destruction.

Keywords: ACPA; SHS; anti-CCP; autoantibodies; citrullinated; fibrinogen; fine specificity; joint destruction; prognostic value; rheumatoid arthritis.