A Human Rheumatoid Factor C304 Shares VH and VL Gene Usage with Antibodies Specific for Ubiquitous Human Viral Pathogens

Abstract
Analysis of the variable region getie sequetices of a human hybridoma rheumatoid factor (RF), derived from a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), revealed the expression of genes from the VβI and VH3 families. Specifically, the C304 RF had rearranged the DPL8/Humlv1042 and VH26 germline VL and VH genes, respectively. This gene usage has been observed in the rearrangement of human anti‐viral antibodies specific for the herpes group of viruses. This overlap between the autoimmune and anti‐viral antibody gene repertoires suggests a possible structural relationship between the immune response directed against ubiquitous pathogens and the induction of RF production.

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