Antibodies to Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Are Pathogenic in Mice and May Be Clinically Relevant in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Our findings provide the structural basis for binding a pathogenic anti-COMP antibody to cartilage. The recognized epitope can be citrullinated, and levels of antibodies to this epitope are elevated in RA patients and correlate with higher disease activity, implicating a pathogenic role of anti-COMP antibodies in a subset of RA patients.