Association analysis of anti-Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 antibodies, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, the shared epitope and smoking status in Brazilian patients with rheumatoid arthritis

• Published in: Clinics (São Paulo, Brazil) Brazil), 2011-01, Vol.66 (8), p.1401-1406
• Main Authors: Yazbek, Michel Alexandre, de Barros-Mazon, Silvia, Rossi, Cláudio Lúcio, Londe, Ana Carolina, Costallat, Lilian Tereza Lavras, Bértolo, Manoel Barros
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alleles; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - etiology; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - genetics; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - immunology; Autoantibodies - blood; Brazilians; Case-Control Studies; Clinical Science; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Epitopes - blood; Epitopes - immunology; Epstein-Barr virus; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - complications; Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigens; Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens - blood; Female; Genotype; Humans; Male; MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL; Middle Aged; Peptides, Cyclic - immunology; Rheumatoid arthritis; Risk Factors; Smoking - adverse effects
• ISSN: 1807-5932; 1980-5322; 1980-5322
• DOI: 10.1590/S1807-59322011000800016

Epstein-Barr virus exposure appears to be an environmental trigger for rheumatoid arthritis that interacts with other risk factors. Relationships among anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, the shared epitope, and smoking status have been observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis from different populations. To perform an association analysis of anti-Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 antibodies, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, the shared epitope, and smoking status in Brazilian patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In a case-control study, 140 rheumatoid arthritis patients and 143 healthy volunteers who were matched for age, sex, and ethnicity were recruited. Anti-Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 antibodies and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies were examined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and shared epitope alleles were identified by genotyping. Smoking information was collected from all subjects. A comparative analysis of anti-Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 antibodies, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, the shared epitope, and smoking status was performed in the patient group. Logistic regression analysis models were used to analyze the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Anti-Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 antibodies were not associated with anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, shared epitope alleles, or smoking status. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody positivity was significantly higher in smoking patients with shared epitope alleles (OR = 3.82). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis using stepwise selection, only anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies were found to be independently associated with rheumatoid arthritis (OR = 247.9). Anti-Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 antibodies did not increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis and were not associated with the rheumatoid arthritis risk factors studied. Smoking and shared epitope alleles were correlated with anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide-antibody-positive rheumatoid arthritis. Of the risk factors, only anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides antibodies were independently associated with rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility.