Arthritis Research & Therapy

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Commentary

Citrullination, a possible functional link between susceptibility genes and rheumatoid arthritis

Erik R Vossenaar*, Albert JW Zendman and Walther J van Venrooij

Author Affiliations

Department of Biochemistry, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands

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Arthritis Res Ther 2004, 6:1-5 doi:10.1186/ar1027

Published: 25 November 2003

Abstract

Antibodies directed to citrullinated proteins (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide) are highly specific for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent data suggest that the antibodies may be involved in the disease process of RA and that several RA-associated genetic factors might be functionally linked to RA via modulation of the production of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies or citrullinated antigens.

Keywords:
anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide autoantibodies; citrullination; genetic susceptibility; peptidylarginine deiminase; rheumatoid arthritis