Tamaki Iwai, Ayako Ohyama, Atsumu Osada, Taihei Nishiyama, Masaru Shimizu, Haruka Miki, Hiromitsu Asashima, Yuya Kondo, Hiroto Tsuboi, Seiya Mizuno, Satoru Takahashi, Akihito Ishigami, Isao Matsumoto
Inter α trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITIH4) is a major protein in serum and reported to be up-regulated at the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Its citrullinated form, cit-ITIH4, is specifically found in serum and synovial fluid of patients with RA. However, the detailed function of ITIH4 in arthritis remains unknown. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of ITIH4 and its citrullinated form using experimental arthritis models. ITIH4 and cit-ITIH4 expression was examined in steady-state mice and two different arthritis models, and their pathological effects were examined in Itih4-deficient mice...
January 8, 2024: Clinical and Experimental Immunology