A117: Demonstration of Antibodies to Multiple Citrullinated Epitopes in the Sera of Patients With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Abstract

Background/Purpose: IgG anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies have been identified in the sera of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients and have been associated with more destructive disease. The identity of the target proteins of the citrullinated modification has remained elusive. We attempted to determine the prevalence and significance of different citrullinated epitopes.Methods: We evaluated serum from 96 patients with various subtypes of JIA for the presence of antideiminated (citrullinated) fibrinogen, anti-citrullinated ␣-enolase, anti-citrullinated and native type II collagen, and anti-vimentin (vim1-16 and vim 59-74) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We correlated the presence of the antibodies with anti-CCP and rheumatoid factor (RF) isotypes, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.