title: A human rheumatoid factor C304 shares VH and VL gene usage with antibodies specific for ubiquitous human viral pathogens.
abstract: Analysis of the variable region gene sequences of a human hybridoma rheumatoid factor (RF), derived from a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), revealed the expression of genes from the V lambda I and VH3 families. Specifically, the C304 RF had rearranged the DPL8/Humlv1042 and VH26 germline VL and VH genes, respectively. This gene usage has been observed in the rearrangement of human anti-viral antibodies specific for the herpes group of viruses. This overlap between the autoimmune and anti-viral antibody gene repertoires suggests a possible structural relationship between the immune response directed against ubiquitous pathogens and the induction of RF production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Montréal General Hospital Research Institute, McGill University, Canada.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rioux
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Newkirk
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006825:Hybridomas; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D017931:DNA Primers; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007135:Immunoglobulin Variable Region; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor