Malondialdehyde (MDA) was obtained as the sodium salt (MDACNa) by treatment of tetramethoxypropane (Aldrich Chemical Co.) with NaOH, according to the method of Iwata and Kikugawa (25). (G) RA 3 sample stained for CD45 (H) merged RA 3 image of MAA proteins, citrullinated proteins and CD45 (I) merged OA 2 sample image of MAA proteins, citrullinated proteins and CD45 (J) merged OA 3 sample image of MAA proteins, citrullinated proteins and CD45. (K) RA Isotype control Rb IgG, Ms IgM, and Rat IgG2b with secondary antibodies (L) OA secondary only control. Images are at 63 power and created using a Zeiss 510 Meta Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope and anayized using ZEN 2012 software. NIHMS862113-supplement-Supplemental_Figure_1.tif (3.5M) GUID:?70C6E5B6-9BB8-4324-945D-B0E8C6453994 Supplemental Figure 2-1R: Supplemental Figure 2: Number of ACPA analytes positive (left column) and total ACPA score (right column) based on the quintile of Rabbit Polyclonal to MSK2 circulating IgA (top) and IgM (bottom) anti-MAA antibody; positive threshold defined as two standard deviations (S.D.) above the mean value for RA patients; ACPA score defined as the sum of normalized fluorescent values divided by the number of analytes examined; points shown reflect means and bars reflect S.D. NIHMS862113-supplement-Supplemental_Figure_2-1R.tif (269K) GUID:?339A3E68-997A-4DDF-BE01-4DF69E5125F3 Abstract Objective As a product of oxidative stress associated with tolerance loss in other disease states, we investigated the presence of malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (MAA) adducts and circulating anti-MAA antibody in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Synovial tissues from RA and osteoarthritis patients were examined for the presence of MAA-modified and citrullinated proteins. Anti-MAA antibody isotypes N-Bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine were measured in RA cases (n = 1720) and healthy controls (n = 80) by ELISA. Antigen-specific anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) was measured in RA cases using a multiplex antigen array. Anti-MAA isotype concentrations were compared in a subset of cases (n = 80) and matched controls (n = 80). Associations of anti-MAA antibody isotypes with disease characteristics, including ACPA, were examined in all RA cases. Results MAA adducts were increased in RA synovial tissues relative to osteoarthritis and co-localized with citrullinated protein. Anti-MAA antibody isotypes were increased in RA cases vs. controls (p < 0.001). Among RA cases, anti-MAA antibody isotypes were associated with ACPA and RF positivity (p < 0.001) in addition to select measures of disease activity. Higher anti-MAA antibody concentrations were associated with a higher number of positive antigen-specific ACPA analytes in high titer (p < 0.001) and a higher ACPA score (p < 0.001) independent of other covariates. Conclusion MAA adduct formation is increased in RA and appears to result in robust antibody responses that are strongly associated with ACPA. These results support speculation that MAA formation may be a co-factor that drives tolerance loss resulting in the autoimmune responses characteristic of RA. Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis, anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA), malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (MAA) adducts, tolerance loss, autoimmunity Lipid peroxidation leading to the formation of protein adducts promotes pro-inflammatory responses that characterize a variety of chronic health conditions and related environmental exposures including cardiovascular disease, alcoholic liver disease, and cigarette smoking (1C4). Malondialdehyde (MDA) is one such ubiquitous product implicated in disease pathogenesis. When cells are exposed to reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation occurs, causing cell walls to rupture and membrane lipids to oxidize into MDA (5). MDA spontaneously breaks down and forms acetaldehyde (AA) (6). Importantly, both MDA and AA are highly reactive aldehydes, and together have been demonstrated to modify proteins to produce a MDA-AA protein adduct, termed malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (MAA). In contrast to highly immunogenic MAA adducts that are characterized by a stable N-Bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine ring structure (7, 8), MDA and AA are relatively unstable and either rapidly N-Bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine dissociate or form other metabolic products (9, 10). Although there N-Bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine have been no studies examining the role of MAA in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), several investigations have shown that levels of oxidative stress, including MDA, are increased in RA (11C14). Compared to healthy controls and patients with osteoarthritis, individuals with RA have higher levels of circulating MDA (15). Moreover, compared to patients with seronegative RA, both circulating and synovial levels of MDA are improved in seropositive disease (16). While little is known about MAA adducts.