Paving the Way for a Next-Generation Test?
With this paper, rheumatologists might reasonably envision a next-generation test for multiple RA-associated epitopes. If additional studies validate the recent paper’s findings, Dr. Rao predicts enthusiasm within the field for the paper’s methods.
They may have implications beyond rheumatoid arthritis, Dr. Rao says. “It would be interesting to see how this assay performs across other diseases, like lupus and systemic sclerosis, and what other epitopes are targeted in these diseases.”
Dr. Lo says he and the other investigators were surprised by the ubiquity of antibodies for RA in study samples, the number of potential RA targets throughout the proteome, “and how limiting CCP2 could be.”
The situation is analogous to improvements whole genome sequencing has made in genetic disease diagnosis, because this method covers all genes. “Here, we’re looking at all of the proteins and antibodies. We’re casting a much wider net,” Dr. Lo says.
Deborah Levenson is a writer and editor based in College Park, Md.
Reference
- Lo KC, Sullivan E, Bannen RM, et al. Comprehensive profiling of rheumatoid arthritis antibody repertoire. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020 Feb;72(2):242–250.
