Cytotoxicity responses to peptide antigens in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Abstract

Our results suggest that antibodies against antigenic determinants of P. mirabilis in RA and K. pneumoniae in AS have cytotoxic properties on structurally related host proteins. These cytotoxic antibodies together with T cell interactions could be relevant in the etiopathogenesis of RA and AS.