ANTIBODIES TO HEAT-SHOCK PROTEINS IN DOGS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS AND SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

Antibodies to heat shock proteins of the 65 kDa group were demonstrate d in canine sera and synovial fluid. This paper reports these antibody measurements in three groups of dogs with joint disease and compares them with those of a control population. Dogs with rheumatoid arthriti s (RA) showed higher anti-heat shock proteins (HSP) antibody levels, i n both their sera and synovial fluids, compared to the control dogs an d these antibodies were predominantly of the IgG and IgM class; there was a significant correlation between IgM anti-HSP65 and IgM-rheumatoi d factors. There was also a significant correlation between anti-HSP65 and antibodies to canine distemper virus, but only of the IgM class a nd the relevance of these antibodies to the overall pathogenesis of ca nine RA and, in particular, to the presence of canine distemper virus within the joint, are discussed.