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Research Article
A new model for an etiology of rheumatoid arthritis: Smoking may trigger HLA–DR (shared epitope)–restricted immune reactions to autoantigens modified by citrullination
Article first published online: 29 DEC 2005
DOI: 10.1002/art.21575
Copyright © 2006 by the American College of Rheumatology
1529-0131/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=104d5c2bb8ef72deba26790b855af7ab80697a0e "Arthritis & Rheumatism")
Additional Information
How to Cite
Klareskog, L., Stolt, P., Lundberg, K., Källberg, H., Bengtsson, C., Grunewald, J., Rönnelid, J., Erlandsson Harris, H., Ulfgren, A.-K., Rantapää-Dahlqvist, S., Eklund, A., Padyukov, L. and Alfredsson, L. (2006), A new model for an etiology of rheumatoid arthritis: Smoking may trigger HLA–DR (shared epitope)–restricted immune reactions to autoantigens modified by citrullination. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 54: 38–46. doi: 10.1002/art.21575
Publication History
- Issue published online: 29 DEC 2005
- Article first published online: 29 DEC 2005
- Manuscript Accepted: 20 JUN 2005
- Manuscript Received: 23 MAR 2005
Funded by
- The Swedish National Research Council
- Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research
- Swedish Rheumatism Association
- insurance company AFA
- Flight Attendants Medical Research Institute
- King Gustaf V's 80-Year Foundation
- Söderberg Foundation
- Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Abstract
Objective
To investigate whether smoking and HLA–DR shared epitope (SE) genes may interact in triggering immune reactions to citrulline-modified proteins.
Methods
In a case–control study involving patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we studied interactions between a major environmental risk factor (smoking), major susceptibility genes included in the SE of HLA–DR, and the presence of the most specific autoimmunity known for RA (i.e., antibodies to proteins modified by citrullination). Immunostaining for citrullinated proteins in cells from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was used to investigate whether smoking is associated with citrullination in the lungs.
Results
Previous smoking was dose-dependently associated with occurrence of anticitrulline antibodies in RA patients. The presence of SE genes was a risk factor only for anticitrulline-positive RA, and not for anticitrulline-negative RA. A major gene–environment interaction between smoking and HLA–DR SE genes was evident for anticitrulline-positive RA, but not for anticitrulline-negative RA, and the combination of smoking history and the presence of double copies of HLA–DR SE genes increased the risk for RA 21-fold compared with the risk among nonsmokers carrying no SE genes. Positive immunostaining for citrullinated proteins was recorded in bronchoalveolar lavage cells from smokers but not in those from nonsmokers.
Conclusion
We identified an environmental factor, smoking, that in the context of HLA–DR SE genes may trigger RA-specific immune reactions to citrullinated proteins. These data thus suggest an etiology involving a specific genotype, an environmental provocation, and the induction of specific autoimmunity, all restricted to a distinct subset of RA.