title: Evaluation of beta 1,4-galactosyltransferase in rheumatoid arthritis and its role in the glycosylation network associated with this disease.
abstract: Evidence indicating an important link between glycosylation changes and autoimmune rheumatic disease is presented. Attention is especially focused on the interrelationship between reduced galactosylation of the oligosaccharides of IgG, auto-sensitization which is thought to be of central importance in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and the enzyme beta 1,4-galactosyltransferase (GTase) that catalyses the addition of galactose to the oligosaccharide chains on this molecule. Data are presented to indicate that GTase undergoes a variety of normal and disease associated changes. These variations are believed to contribute to the pathological processes in rheumatoid disease, and a hypothesis is suggested, whereby disease is associated with the dysregulation of an integrated glycosylation network, comprising IgG galactosylation, lymphocytic GTase and anti-GTase antibodies, that is a component of the normal immune system.
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000201:enzymology*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D009237:N-Acetyllactosamine Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D009237:N-Acetyllactosamine Synthase