Anti-Modified Peptide Antibodies (AMPAs) in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Study of the Diagnostic Value of Citrullinated, Homocitrullinated, and Acetylated Fibrin/Filaggrin Chimeric Peptides

<b>Background/Objectives.</b> The presence of anti-citrullinated peptide/protein antibodies (ACPAs), anti-carbamylated peptide/protein antibodies (anti-CarPs), and anti-acetylated peptide/protein antibodies (AAPAs), collectively termed as anti-modified peptide/protein antibodies (AMPAs),...

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Main Authors: Isabel Haro, Raul Castellanos-Moreira, Raimon Sanmartí, María José Gómara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Diagnostics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/22/2485
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author Isabel Haro
Raul Castellanos-Moreira
Raimon Sanmartí
María José Gómara
author_facet Isabel Haro
Raul Castellanos-Moreira
Raimon Sanmartí
María José Gómara
author_sort Isabel Haro
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives.</b> The presence of anti-citrullinated peptide/protein antibodies (ACPAs), anti-carbamylated peptide/protein antibodies (anti-CarPs), and anti-acetylated peptide/protein antibodies (AAPAs), collectively termed as anti-modified peptide/protein antibodies (AMPAs), is a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis. These autoantibodies play a crucial role in the complex autoimmune responses observed in patients. Understanding the interplay between them is essential for early diagnosis and effective management of the disease. <b>Methods.</b> In this work, we investigate IgG, IgM, and IgA levels of ACPAs, anti-CarPs, and AAPAs in two cohorts: patients with established RA disease and healthy blood donors, using a unique peptide antigenic backbone. <b>Results.</b> Our results showed that antibody levels of anti-citrullinated peptide (CFFCP) and anti-homocitrullinated peptide (CFFHP) were significantly higher in RA patients compared to healthy blood donors in the three isotypes analyzed, IgG, IgA, and IgM. Fine specificities were more frequent when using the CFFCP antigen. Regarding the reactivity to the acetyl-lysine modified peptide (CFFAP), the correlation between IgA and IgG/IgM was very weak. CCFAP was highly specific for isotypes IgG and IgA, but its sensitivity was low for both isotypes. Anti-CarP and AAPA are significant in the context of RA, particularly concerning their IgA isotypes. <b>Conclusions.</b> Their inclusion in diagnostics assessments for RA, especially for anti-citrulline negative cases, presents a potential advance in the field; however, they do not replace yet traditional markers like rheumatoid factor (RF) and ACPAs.
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spelling doaj-art-4d7f2ee4eb6e46e49b39588a3e62a2252025-08-20T01:53:44ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182024-11-011422248510.3390/diagnostics14222485Anti-Modified Peptide Antibodies (AMPAs) in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Study of the Diagnostic Value of Citrullinated, Homocitrullinated, and Acetylated Fibrin/Filaggrin Chimeric PeptidesIsabel Haro0Raul Castellanos-Moreira1Raimon Sanmartí2María José Gómara3Unit of Synthesis and Biomedical Applications of Peptides, IQAC-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18–26, 08034 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Rheumatology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Rheumatology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, SpainUnit of Synthesis and Biomedical Applications of Peptides, IQAC-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18–26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain<b>Background/Objectives.</b> The presence of anti-citrullinated peptide/protein antibodies (ACPAs), anti-carbamylated peptide/protein antibodies (anti-CarPs), and anti-acetylated peptide/protein antibodies (AAPAs), collectively termed as anti-modified peptide/protein antibodies (AMPAs), is a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis. These autoantibodies play a crucial role in the complex autoimmune responses observed in patients. Understanding the interplay between them is essential for early diagnosis and effective management of the disease. <b>Methods.</b> In this work, we investigate IgG, IgM, and IgA levels of ACPAs, anti-CarPs, and AAPAs in two cohorts: patients with established RA disease and healthy blood donors, using a unique peptide antigenic backbone. <b>Results.</b> Our results showed that antibody levels of anti-citrullinated peptide (CFFCP) and anti-homocitrullinated peptide (CFFHP) were significantly higher in RA patients compared to healthy blood donors in the three isotypes analyzed, IgG, IgA, and IgM. Fine specificities were more frequent when using the CFFCP antigen. Regarding the reactivity to the acetyl-lysine modified peptide (CFFAP), the correlation between IgA and IgG/IgM was very weak. CCFAP was highly specific for isotypes IgG and IgA, but its sensitivity was low for both isotypes. Anti-CarP and AAPA are significant in the context of RA, particularly concerning their IgA isotypes. <b>Conclusions.</b> Their inclusion in diagnostics assessments for RA, especially for anti-citrulline negative cases, presents a potential advance in the field; however, they do not replace yet traditional markers like rheumatoid factor (RF) and ACPAs.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/22/2485rheumatoid arthritisanti-modified peptide antibodiescitrullinationhomocitrullinationacetylationsynthetic peptides
spellingShingle Isabel Haro
Raul Castellanos-Moreira
Raimon Sanmartí
María José Gómara
Anti-Modified Peptide Antibodies (AMPAs) in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Study of the Diagnostic Value of Citrullinated, Homocitrullinated, and Acetylated Fibrin/Filaggrin Chimeric Peptides
Diagnostics
rheumatoid arthritis
anti-modified peptide antibodies
citrullination
homocitrullination
acetylation
synthetic peptides
title Anti-Modified Peptide Antibodies (AMPAs) in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Study of the Diagnostic Value of Citrullinated, Homocitrullinated, and Acetylated Fibrin/Filaggrin Chimeric Peptides
title_full Anti-Modified Peptide Antibodies (AMPAs) in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Study of the Diagnostic Value of Citrullinated, Homocitrullinated, and Acetylated Fibrin/Filaggrin Chimeric Peptides
title_fullStr Anti-Modified Peptide Antibodies (AMPAs) in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Study of the Diagnostic Value of Citrullinated, Homocitrullinated, and Acetylated Fibrin/Filaggrin Chimeric Peptides
title_full_unstemmed Anti-Modified Peptide Antibodies (AMPAs) in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Study of the Diagnostic Value of Citrullinated, Homocitrullinated, and Acetylated Fibrin/Filaggrin Chimeric Peptides
title_short Anti-Modified Peptide Antibodies (AMPAs) in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Study of the Diagnostic Value of Citrullinated, Homocitrullinated, and Acetylated Fibrin/Filaggrin Chimeric Peptides
title_sort anti modified peptide antibodies ampas in rheumatoid arthritis study of the diagnostic value of citrullinated homocitrullinated and acetylated fibrin filaggrin chimeric peptides
topic rheumatoid arthritis
anti-modified peptide antibodies
citrullination
homocitrullination
acetylation
synthetic peptides
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/22/2485
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