title: Antibody to streptococcal cell wall peptidoglycan-polysaccharide polymers in seropositive and seronegative rheumatic disease.
abstract: An ELISA has been developed for serum antibodies to streptococcal cell wall peptidoglycan-polysaccharide polymers (PG-GSP). A significantly increased prevalence of serum anti-PG-GSP antibody was found in juvenile chronic arthritis and both seropositive and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA), compared with ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, myeloma and healthy controls. Anti-PG-GSP antibody was always of the IgG class and there was no correlation of anti-PG-GSP levels with C reactive protein, rheumatoid factor (RF) or anti-streptolysin O titres. There was no direct cross-reaction of RF with PG-GSP, nor did the presence of IgM-RF significantly interfere with the assay. Examination of paired serum and synovial fluid samples offered no evidence for local production of anti-PG-GSP antibody in synovial tissue. These data are compatible with an increased systemic immunization by bacterial fragments in RA.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000276:immunology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000276:immunology*; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor