Expression of complement regulatory proteins CD55, CD59, CD35, and CD46 in rheumatoid arthritis

• Published in: Revista brasileira de reumatologia Vol. 51; no. 5; p. 503
• Main Authors: Piccoli, Amanda Kirchner, Alegretti, Ana Paula, Schneider, Laiana, Lora, Priscila Schmidt, Xavier, Ricardo Machado
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil 01.09.2011
• Subjects: Arthritis, Rheumatoid - immunology; CD55 Antigens - biosynthesis; CD59 Antigens - biosynthesis; Humans; Membrane Cofactor Protein - biosynthesis; Receptors, Complement 3b - biosynthesis
• ISSN: 1809-4570

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease associated with polyarticular inflammatory synovitis affecting mainly peripheral joints. It affects approximately 1% of the world population, being two to three times more prevalent in women. Rheumatoid arthritis has a complex and multifactorial pathogenesis. The synovium of the affected joints is infiltrated by T and B lymphocytes, macrophages, and granulocytes. The rheumatoid synovium has proliferative characteristics, forming the pannus, which invades cartilage and bone, leading to normal architecture destruction and function loss. The decreased expression of complement regulatory proteins (CRP) seems to play an important role in RA activity, and is associated with worsening of the clinical symptoms. In several models of autoimmune diseases, the overactivation of the complement system (CS) is the cause of disease exacerbation. This article aimed at reviewing the main aspects related to CS regulation in RA in order to provide a better understanding of the potential role of this system in the pathophysiology and activity of the disease.