title: Antibodies to peptidoglycan in the sera from population surveys.
abstract: A recently described latex agglutination test was used to determine peptidoglycan antibody titers in sera from healthy human subjects and in sera from patients with a history of streptococcal infections or rheumatoid arthritis. Using latex particles coated with group A streptococcal peptidoglycan 32.8% of the sera from 961 healthy donors reacted positively with titers ranging from 1 : 5 to 1 : 320. Peptidoglycan antibodies were more frequently present in the younger population (45.1% in the 20-29 years old) and considerably decreased in advanced age (15.7% in the 70 years or older). Sera from 82 patients with elevated ASO-titers showed detectable peptidoglycan antibody levels in 40.2%; a statistically significant correlation between ASO and peptidoglycan antibody titers could not be substantiated. Sera from 25 patients with rheumatoid arthritis gave a high incidence (56-92%) of positive results. However there was evidence that this may be due to the action of rheumatoid factor present in such sera.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000276:immunology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000276:immunology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000276:immunology; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D010457:Peptidoglycan