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Immunologic Research
Published in: Immunologic Research 2-3/2013

01-07-2013 | ETIO PATHOGENESIS OF AUTOIMMUNITY

Toxoplasma gondii: bystander or cofactor in rheumatoid arthritis

Authors: Svetlana Fischer, Nancy Agmon-Levin, Yinon Shapira, Bat-Sheva Porat Katz, Eduard Graell, Ricard Cervera, Ljudmila Stojanovich, Jose A. Gómez Puerta, Raimon Sanmartí, Yehuda Shoenfeld

Published in: Immunologic Research | Issue 2-3/2013

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Abstract

Parasitic infections may induce variable immunomodulatory effects and control of autoimmune disease. Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a ubiquitous intracellular protozoan that was recently associated with autoimmunity. This study was undertaken to investigate the seroprevalence and clinical correlation of anti-T. gondii antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We evaluated sera from European patients with RA (n = 125) and SLE (n = 164) for the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies (ATXAb), as well as other common infections such as Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr, and Rubella virus. The rates of seropositivity were determined utilizing the LIAISON chemiluminescent immunoassays (DiaSorin, Italy). Our results showed a higher seroprevalence of ATXAb in RA patients, as compared with SLE patients [63 vs. 36 %, respectively (p = 0.01)]. The rates of seropositivity of IgG against other infectious agents were comparable between RA and SLE patients. ATXAb-seropositivity was associated with older age of RA patients, although it did not correlate with RA disease activity and other manifestations of the disease. In conclusion, our data suggest a possible link between exposure to T. gondii infection and RA.
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Metadata
Title
Toxoplasma gondii: bystander or cofactor in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors
Svetlana Fischer
Nancy Agmon-Levin
Yinon Shapira
Bat-Sheva Porat Katz
Eduard Graell
Ricard Cervera
Ljudmila Stojanovich
Jose A. Gómez Puerta
Raimon Sanmartí
Yehuda Shoenfeld
Publication date
01-07-2013
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Immunologic Research / Issue 2-3/2013
Print ISSN: 0257-277X
Electronic ISSN: 1559-0755
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-013-8402-2

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