Objective
Autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterised by an antibody response to citrullinated proteins. Periodontitis (PD) is largely caused by infection, in which
Porphyromonas gingivalis is a major pathogen. The two diseases combine specific HLA-DRB1alleles and smoking as risk factors, and have a similar pathophysiology characterised by destructive inflammation. A possible causative link between RA and PD is based on the ability of P. gingivalis to citrullinate proteins and thereby generate autoantigens that drive autoimmunity in RA. We hypothesise that anti-citrullinated protein antibodies can be generated, in genetically susceptible individuals, as a consequence of P. Gingivalis-induced citrullination in the gingiva. In the context of genetic risk factors, during chronic exposure to danger signals, such as bacterial
lipopolysacharides and DNA, tolerance to citrullinated proteins may be broken, with production of a pathogenic antibody response, which at a later time point cross-reacts with joint proteins and causes chronic RA. We will use a multidisciplinary approach (genetics, epidemiology, molecular immunology and animal models) to study susceptibility factors and immune responses in RA and PD, with an aim to identify novel etiological and pathogenic pathways, forming the basis for new therapies.
Fields of science
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinerheumatology
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespublic healthepidemiology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologypathophysiology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunology
Call for proposal
FP7-HEALTH-2010-single-stage
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research projectCoordinator
5020 Bergen
Norway
See on map
Participants (12)
31007 Krakow
See on map
17177 Stockholm
See on map
82152 Planegg Martinsried
See on map
8000 Aarhus C
See on map
08007 Barcelona
See on map
28006 Madrid
See on map
B15 2TT Birmingham
See on map
G12 8QQ Glasgow
See on map
Participation ended
SW7 2AZ London
50121 Florence
See on map
405 30 Goeteborg
See on map
OX1 2JD Oxford
See on map