Rheumatoid arthritis, glycosylation alterations

The molecular basis of inherited defects is established for a number of diseases and altered glycosylation patterns have been observed to be associated with these. For example, IgG Fc fragment conserved site glycans lacking in outer arm Gal residues increase in rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis and Crohn s disease. There is also an Fab-specific increase in glycans bearing a bisecting Gn and a core Fuc [148]. 

Acute phase proteins are plasma proteins produced mainly by hepatocytes. Most APPs are glycoproteins with one or more N-linked complex glycans. Stimulants that commonly induce the acute phase response include tissue injury, rheumatoid arthritis, bacterial infection, inflammation, and neoplasms. Cytokines, notably interleukin-6, induce striking alterations in the concentration and glycosylation pattern of APPs in response to these stimuli [160]. 

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