THE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS-ASSOCIATED AUTOANTIBODIES TO FILAGGRIN LABELTHE FIBROUS MATRIX OF THE CORNIFIED CELLS BUT NOT THE PROFILAGGRIN-CONTAINING KERATOHYALIN GRANULES IN HUMAN EPIDERMIS

Since they were first described, serum IgG antibodies to the stratum c orneum of rat oesophagus epithelium, highly specific for rheumatoid ar thritis (RA), have been consensually called antikeratin antibodies (AK A). However, we recently demonstrated that they actually recognize thr ee new proteins of rat oesophagus epithelium distinct from cytokeratin s, and also human epidermal filaggrin. In this work we provided furthe r evidence that AKA and RA-associated anti-filaggrin autoantibodies ar e the same antibodies. Moreover, analysing by indirect immunofluoresce nce on human skin a large series of 212 well characterized RA sera and anti-filaggrin autoantibodies purified from RA sera by affinity chrom atography, we demonstrated the specific binding of AKA to the stratum corneum of human epidermis and the absence of any staining of the gran ular keratinocytes. This binding was confirmed and the AKA antigen pre cisely localized in human epidermis by immunoelectron microscopy. The antigen was found to be restricted to the filaggrin-containing intrace llular fibrous matrix of the corneocytes, up to the desquamating cells . In contrast, MoAbs directed to human filaggrin and to profilaggrin, its precursor, not only stained the intracellular matrix of the lower corneocytes but also the keratohyalin granules of the granular cells, where profilaggrin is stored. These results reinforced by the absence of immunoblotting reactivity of RA sera to profilaggrin suggest that t he epitopes recognized by AKA are absent from profilaggrin. Their iden tification may provide more insight into the pathogenesis of RA.