Interlukin-35 Gene Polymorphism and Epstein Bar Virus IgG Antibodies against Viral Capsid Antigen Presence in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic condition of autoimmunological nature marked by inflammation in multiple small joints, known as polyarthritis. The aim of the study that complex illness affected by a numerous of factors involving lifestyle choices, genetics, and environmental elements. The presence of both joint-related and systemic symptoms in RA can ultimately lead to unfavorable long-term consequences, including disability and mortality. The aim of this study was to explore the role of IL-35 gene polymorphism and the presence of Epstein Bar virus (EBV) in RA Iraqi patients. The results revealed that the EBV IgG antibodies index was significant increase in RA patients than healthy control. Such findings suggest that involvement of EBV in RA disease. in addition, all RA patients were sero-positive for ACCP antibodies in this study and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis revealed the predictive significance of ACCP in differentiating RA patients from healthy controls (HC). Furthermore, the RA patients revealed sero-negative for ANA-8S antibodies in 57% of total patients and the ROC curve analysis revealed the predictive significance of ANA-8S in differentiating RA patients from HC as well. It was concluded that no correlation found between the presence of EBV IgG antibodies index and ACCP or ANA-8S presence in RA patient’s sera.