title: An important step towards completing the rheumatoid arthritis cycle.
abstract: In the previous issue of Arthritis Research & Therapy data are presented showing that circulating immune complexes containing citrullinated fibrin(ogen) are present in anti-citrullinated protein antibody-positive rheumatoid arthritis patients, and that such immune complexes co-localize with complement factor C3 in the rheumatoid synovium. These results corroborate the idea that citrullination is intimately involved in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis and complete our model (the rheumatoid arthritis cycle) for the development and chronic nature of this disease.
authors.forename: Walther J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: van Venrooij
authors.forename: Ger J M
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Pruijn
mesh_terms: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000276:immunology; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D003176:Complement C3; D005340:Fibrinogen