L16: Rheumatoid Arthritis

Question 1

RA is characterised by

Answer 1

synovial lining outgrowths

Question 2

HLA Susceptibility Genes

Answer 2

HLA-DRβ region
STAT4
PTPN22

Question 3

Mechanism of citrullination

Answer 3

Process by which positively charged arginine residues are post-translationally modified and converted to uncharged citrulline. Mediated by peptidylarginase deiminase (PAPDI4) that is typically activated by cellular stress and damage

Question 4

RA treatment

Answer 4

DMARDs
NSAIDs - naprosyn
Corticosteroids - prednisolone
Neutralisation of cytokines with soluble receptors and monoclonal Ab

Question 5

GM-CSF function and treatment mechanism

Answer 5

stimulates differentiation of multi-potent BM progenitors into mature myeloid cells in response to inflammation
GM-CSF-/- mice are protected from CIA