Autoantibodies and B Cells: The ABC of rheumatoid arthritis pathophysiology

Abstract excerpt

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation. In the last few decades, new insights into RA-specific autoantibodies and B cells have greatly expanded our understanding of the disease. The best-known autoantibodies in RA-rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA)-are present long before disease onset, and both responses show signs of maturation...