Connection Between RA and Bacteria in Human Mouth and Intestine

[Guest guest]

Dear Group,

An excerpt from http://tristarpub.com/acr2010/?cat=3

" The last time I addressed this large body [American College of

Rheumatology], it was known that direct causes of inflammation in RA

are immune complexes and activated complement, " said Gerald

Weissmann, MD, MACR, director of the Biotechnology Study Center at

NYU School of Medicine, New York, and the presenter of this year's

Opening Lecture. " All I could talk about was 'antigen X.' Now I can

suggest that peptides citrullinated by oral bacteria may be that

antigen X. And the only bacteria that citrullinates peptides is

Porphyromonas gingivalis. When citrullinated peptide antigens react

with certain immunoglobulins, these become altered, and now they're

recognized by rheumatoid factor. It's a simple story. "

Sincerely, Harald