OBJECTIVE To analyse the role of multibiomarker disease activity (MBDA) score in predicting disease relapses in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in sustained remission who tapered disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy in RETRO, a prospective randomised controlled trial. METHODS MBDA scores (scale 1-100) were determined based on 12 inflammation markers in baseline serum s...

BACKGROUND In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), anti-citrullinated protein/peptide antibodies (ACPAs) are responsible for disease onset and progression, however, our knowledge is limited on ligand binding affinities of autoantibodies with different citrulline-peptide specificity. METHODS Citrulline-peptide-specific ACPA IgGs were affinity purified and tested by ELISA. Binding affinities of ACPA IgGs...

The roles of GABAergic receptors of the Basolateral amygdala (BLA) in the cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist (arachydonilcyclopropylamide; ACPA)-induced anxiolytic-like effect and aversive memory deficit in adult male mice were examined in elevated plus-maze task. Results showed that pre-test intra-peritoneal injection of ACPA induced anxiolytic-like effect (at dose of 0.05 mg/kg) and aversive me...

BACKGROUND The presence of anti-citrullinated peptide/ protein antibody (ACPA) has a high specificity and predictive value for the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Some studies have shown decreased titers of this antibody after treatment with infliximab. OBJECTIVES To assess the changes in ACPA titers in patients with RA after treatment with infliximab as a first biological agent, an...

OBJECTIVE Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) are highly specific for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and are present years before the onset of symptoms. The avidity of autoantibodies can have a strong impact on their effector potency. This study was undertaken to analyze the avidity of ACPAs in serum samples obtained from ACPA-positive healthy individuals (predisease), patients with early ...

A new unsaturated glutamic acid analog, 4-amino-3-chloro-2-pentenedioic acid ( ACPA ) was isolated from a fermentation broth produced by a strain of Streptomyces. ACPA has a very narrow antibacterial spectrum, which is virtually limited to Micrococcus luteus.