YERSINIA-SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES IN SERUM AND SYNOVIAL-FLUID IN PATIENTS WITH YERSINIA TRIGGERED REACTIVE ARTHRITIS

Objectives-To further evaluate the role of bacterial antigens in trigg ering inflammation in patients with by studying local antibody synthes is in the joint.Methods-Yersinia-specific antibodies in paired serum a nd synovial fluid samples from 29 patients with yersinia triggered rea ctive arthritis were studied using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assa y (ELISA), an inhibition ELISA with six monoclonal antibodies against Lipopolysaccharide or released proteins of yersinia and immunoblotting . Antibodies of IgM, IgG and IgA classes, as well as antibodies of IgA subclasses and those containing secretory component were measured aga inst the lipopolysaccharide and the sodium dodecyl sulphate extract of whole Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 bacteria. Results-It was shown that yersinia-specific antibodies, as well as antibodies against other mic robial antigens (rubella, measles, Bordetella pertussis, tetanus toroi d and Candida albicans) in synovial fluid mirror those in serum by con centration, by specificity and by distribution in classes and subclass es. Conclusion-These results do not suggest any strong local antibody production, but indicate that the majority of yersinia antibodies in t he synovial fluid are derived from the circulation.