Antibodies to synovial antigens in recent‐onset rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective. To identify synovial antigens that bind to serum antibodies from subjects with recent‐onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (<6 months of synovitis). Methods. Soluble and insoluble fractions of Triton X‐100 extracts of RA and normal synovial tissue, and normal spleen and placenta, were immunoblotted with sera from 27 patients with recent‐onset RA, 13 autoimmune disease control subjects, and 13 blood bank control donors. Bound immunoglobulin was probed with 125I‐labeled protein A. Results. Antibodies in the sera of 20 (74%) patients with recent‐onset RA recognized at least 1 of 5 antigens in both a disease‐ and tissue‐specific and nonspecific manner. Anti‐La antibodies, usually associate..