Correlation of the humoral immune answer to selected bacterial antigens with presence of the DNA specific to Salmonella enteritidis after amplification by PCR

Introduction

An infectious actiology has often been discussed as a most compatible with both the clinical and pathological features of rheumatoid arthritis /RA/. Until now, no single microorganism can be showed as consistently associated with development of RA. In our former serological and molecular studies we have shown that the most common humoral immune answer in RA patients is directed to Salmonella enteritidis /S. ent./ antigens, especially to specific for Salmonella enteritidis 03 LPS.

The aim of the study was to proof the correlation between systemic and local humoral immune answer to Salmonella enteritidis antigens and the presence of DNA specific for Salmonella enteritidis 03 serotype.

Materials and methods

In the tested group, composed of 35 sera and 20 synovial fluid, taken from 20 patients with connective tissue diseases the presence of DNA after PCR amplification and antibodies by ELISA method were estimated.

Results

In 10 of 35 /31%/ synovial fluids /bacteriologically negative/ we have found /after amplification by PCR/ double band of the DNA, specific for Salmonella enteritidis, possessing mol. weight 390 bp and 420 bp respectively. Also in the same group of patients the antibodies to OMP S. ent. in 30% of tested cases, to LPS S. ent. in 78,9%, in 30% to ECA and none to peptydoglycan have been found. Only in a few of the PCR-positive synovial fluid elevated level of antibodies to S. ent. have been found.

Conclusions

No evident correlation, so far, between class and specificity of humoral antibodies and the presence of specific for S. ent. DNA after PCR amplification have been found.