The Association of Anti-Aminoacyl-Transfer Ribonucleic Acid Synthetase Antibodies in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Interstitial Lung Disease

Masakazu MATSUSHITA, Naoto TAMURA, Michihiro OGASAWARA, Kurisu TADA, Ken YAMAJI, Yoshinari TAKASAKI

Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

Keywords: Aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase; antirheumatic drugs; interstitial lung diseases; rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the distribution and clinicopathological characteristics of anti-aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) synthetase (ARS) antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Patients and methods: We retrospectively studied the anti-ARS antibody levels in 228 RA patients’ (44 males, 184 females; mean age 62.9±14.0 years; range 23 to 88 years) sera from their medical charts. We determined the association with anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody levels, interstitial lung disease (ILD), rheumatoid factor, and methotrexate or biological disease modifying antirheumatic drug treatments.
Results: Anti-ARS antibodies were detected in 14 RA patients (6.1%). ILD complications were significantly higher among anti-ARS antibody-positive patients (57.1% vs 22.4%, p<0.05). Levels of anti-threonyl-tRNA-synthetase (anti-PL-7) and anti-alanyl-tRNA-synthetase (anti-PL-12), two anti-ARS antibodies, were higher in RA patients with concurrent ILD (both p<0.05). Myositis and ILD worsening were not observed in three anti-ARS antibody- positive patients despite biological disease modifying antirheumatic drug administration. There was no difference in anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and rheumatoid factor specificities between patients with or without ARS antibodies.
Conclusion: Anti-ARS antibodies were detected in RA patients, with higher prevalence in patients with concurrent ILD. RA patients, specifically those with ILD complications, should be tested for anti-ARS antibodies.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.