Brief Report: Citrullination Within the Atherosclerotic Plaque: A Potential Target for the Anti–Citrullinated Protein Antibody Response in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Citrullinated proteins are prevalent within atherosclerotic plaques, and certain ACPAs are associated with the atherosclerotic burden. These observations suggest that targeting of citrullinated epitopes, specifically Cit-fibrinogen, within atherosclerotic plaques could provide a mechanism for the accelerated atherosclerosis observed in patients with RA.