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RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

The parallel worlds of ACPA-positive and RF-positive B cells

Seropositive RA can present with two different types of autoantibodies that have distinct features: anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) and rheumatoid factors (RFs). With a single-cell approach, researchers provide evidence that the underlying B cell subsets of these autoantibody specificities develop in parallel by different mechanisms.

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Fig. 1: The maturation of RF-positive and ACPA-positive B cell responses.

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Correspondence to Vivianne Malmström.

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V.M. declares that she has given lectures supported by pharmacological companies (BMS, Janssen, Pfizer and Sobis) within her duty at the Karolinska Institute (and with financial compensation to the Karolinska Institute). C.G. declares no competing interests.

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Malmström, V., Grönwall, C. The parallel worlds of ACPA-positive and RF-positive B cells. Nat Rev Rheumatol 14, 626–628 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-018-0094-5

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