PtpA and PknG Proteins Secreted by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis are Recognized by Sera from Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case–Control Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic, Clinical and Laboratory Features of RA Subjects and HCs

	RA n=84	HCs n=79
Age, years	59.0 ± 9.9	46.7 ± 11.6
Female sex, n (%)	65 (77.38)	54 (68.35)
Disease duration, months	145 ± 134	–
ACPA positivity, n (%)	68.6	–
RF positivity, n (%)	74.5	–
HAQ (0–3)	0.92 ± 0.73	–
DAS-28	3.72 ± 1.38	–
CRP, mg/dL	0.88 ± 0.96	–
ESR, mm/h	30.7 ± 25.8	–
Steroids use, n (%)	43.4	–
DMARDs use, n (%)	66.3	–
Anti-TNF use, n (%)	24.1	–
Tocilizumab use, n (%)	12	–
Abatacept use, n (%)	4.9	–

Figure 1 ELISA-based analysis of antibody reactivity against two proteins of MAP in RA subject and HCs. The sera was tested against plate-coated PtpA (A) and PknG (B) proteins. Bars represent the median ± interquartile range. Thresholds for antibody positivity are indicated by dashed lines. P-values are indicated above the distributions. ROC analysis of both proteins (C and D).

Figure 2 Scatter plot showing correlations between Abs titers recognizing (A) BOLF1_305–320 and PtpA, (C) MAP_4027_18–32 and PtpA, (E) IRF5_424–434 and PtpA, (B) BOLF1_305–320 and PknG, (D) MAP_4027_18–32 and PknG, (F) IRF5_424–434 and PknG in 84 RA patients and 79 HCs. Person’s correlation was calculated through Graphpad Prism 6.0 software.

Figure 3 (A) Coincidence of seroreactivity to the PtpA, PknG proteins and MAP_4027_18–32 peptide among Abs-positive RA and HCs subject. (B) Prevalence of Abs directed against PtpA, PknG and MAP_4027_18–32 in RA patients and HCs.