title: Toxoplasma gondii: bystander or cofactor in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Parasitic infections may induce variable immunomodulatory effects and control of autoimmune disease. Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a ubiquitous intracellular protozoan that was recently associated with autoimmunity. This study was undertaken to investigate the seroprevalence and clinical correlation of anti-T. gondii antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We evaluated sera from European patients with RA (n = 125) and SLE (n = 164) for the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies (ATXAb), as well as other common infections such as Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr, and Rubella virus. The rates of seropositivity were determined utilizing the LIAISON chemiluminescent immunoassays (DiaSorin, Italy). Our results showed a higher seroprevalence of ATXAb in RA patients, as compared with SLE patients [63 vs. 36 %, respectively (p = 0.01)]. The rates of seropositivity of IgG against other infectious agents were comparable between RA and SLE patients. ATXAb-seropositivity was associated with older age of RA patients, although it did not correlate with RA disease activity and other manifestations of the disease. In conclusion, our data suggest a possible link between exposure to T. gondii infection and RA.
authors.affiliation: The Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, 52621, Tel HaShomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Agmon-Levin
authors.forename: Yinon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shapira
authors.forename: Bat-Sheva
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Porat Katz
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Graell
authors.forename: Ricard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cervera
authors.forename: Ljudmila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stojanovich
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gómez Puerta
authors.forename: Raimon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanmartí
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoenfeld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
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