This study does not seem to confirm the described association of anti-P with SLE neuropsychiatric manifestations. However, it supports the anti-P association with different skin manifestations as well as the presence of anticardiolipin in a subset of patients with SLE characterized by early disease onset.

BACKGROUND: Autoantibodies to citrullinated proteins (ACPA) are considered a specific marker for rheumatoid arthritis. Peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) is the enzyme that converts arginyl into citrullyl residues; different isoforms of the enzyme are expressed in mammals. It has been suggested that the PADI4 gene may contribute to genetic susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis, but conflicting results have been obtained in different populations. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the PADI4 gene may confer susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis in a white French population, using powerful and highly reliable family based association tests. METHODS: DNA samples were analysed from 100 families where one member was affected by rheumatoid arthritis and both parents were available for sampling. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms, located within the PADI4 gene and in its close proximity, were genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism, and haplotypes were constructed. The analysis involved use of the transmission disequilibrium test and genotype relative risk. ACPA were detected by ELISA on cyclic citrullinated peptides and on human deiminated fibrinogen. RESULTS: No single SNP or haplotype was associated with the disease, or was preferentially transmitted. No association was found when patients were partitioned according to ACPA positivity. CONCLUSIONS: No PADI4 haplotype is associated with rheumatoid arthritis in a white French population. The role of genes encoding the other PAD isoforms, or modulating tissue expression or enzyme activity, remains to be elucidated

Anti-ribosomal P protein antibodies (Abs) recognize three specific ribosomal proteins located in the large ribosome's subunit. The term anti-ribosomal P protein Abs, often shortened in anti-P Abs, is due to the fact that these three proteins, P0, P1 and P2, of 38, 19 and 17 Kd molecular weight, respectively, are phosphorylated. One of the major points of interest of these autoAbs derives from their high specificity for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), their description in other connective tissue diseases (CTDs) being only occasional. In SLE patients, their association with renal and hepatic involvement has been proposed, while the possible association with psychiatric and/or neurological involvement is still a matter of debate. From a serological point of view, a preferential association of anti-P with anti-Sm and/or anti-DNA Abs, possibly due, at least in part, to cross-reactivity, has been suggested. This observation is intriguing since all these autoAbs are considered specific serological indicators of SLE. This review will summarize clinical and serological data on anti-P Abs provided by the main studies published in the last few years and the more recent findings about proteins constituting their targets.

BackgroundRecent investigations suggest a possible common genetic background between Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Celiac Disease (CD). However, studies regarding this association are scarce and often limited by the small sample sizes and/or large heterogeneity among ASD groups in terms of demographic and clinical features. The present study aims to investigate the overall CD prevalence (biopsy proven-CD patients plus screening detected tTG and EMA positive cases) in a large population of pre-schoolers with ASD referred to a tertiary care University Hospital.MethodsWe retrospectively collected data about 382 children (mean age: 46.97 ± 13.55 months; age-range: 18-72 months) consecutively diagnosed as ASD (according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition criteria) over the period 2010–2013, and who performed a serological CD screening.ResultsThe overall CD prevalence was 2.62%, which is statistically significant higher to that reported in the Italian paediatric population (p = 0.0246). Half of these children had no symptoms or risk factors related to CD when they performed the serological screening.ConclusionsIf replicated, these data suggest the importance of regular screening for CD in young patients with ASD, and are of relevance for clinical and public health.

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IgE sensitization to Anisakis pegreffii in Italian subjects suffering from gastro-allergic anisakiasis (GAA) (N=5), or showing chronic urticaria (CU+) after fish consumption (N=100), was investigated. A control group (N=5) was also included. IgE response was analysed by immunoblotting (WB) assay, using both excretory/secretory products (ESPs) and crude extract (CE) of A. pegreffii larvae. The results were compared with those achieved by the conventional immunological method for Anisakis allergy (ie, immunoCAP). Among the 110 subjects, 28 showed IgE positivity with both WB and iCAP methods; 13 proved IgE reactivity, in WB assay, to ESP antigens of A. pegreffii, here provisionally indicated as Ani s 1-like, Ani s 7-like, Ani s 13-like; only 15 sera have shown IgE-WB reaction to Ani s 7-like and Ani s 13-like. iCAP and WB exhibited a high concordance value (κ=1.00) when iCAP value was <0.35 (negative result) and >50.0 (positive result). In the sera samples recorded as positive to Anisakis allergy, Ani s 1-like was responsible for 46.4% of the sensitivity, while Ani s 7-like and Ani s 13-like for 100%. They could be considered as major antigens in the diagnosis of allergic anisakiasis caused by A. pegreffii.

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