Abstract

Introduction and aim: Staphylococcal enterotoxins C as superantigen could stimulate T lymphocytes and trigger a cytokine storm and subsequently Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as an autoimmune disease. The aim of this study was to assess the existence of staphylococcal enterotoxin C in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients' blood and synovial fluid (SF) samples. Materials and Methods: During 18 months, patients whom were referred to Rheumatologic clinic and with an initial diagnosis of Rheumatoid arthritis, 100 blood and 100 synovial fluid samples were collected in a volume of 5-10m1, 3-5m1 of which was inoculated to Castaneda medium, and the remained was collected in the test tubes for obtaining serum and plasma. PCR and ELISA methods by using specific primer and special Antibodies for detecting enterotoxin C were carried out. Results: During this study and after sequential sub cultures, only 2 bacterial were isolated. Based on the results of Biochemical tests, just one case as Staphylococcus aureus was detected. Also, the result of molecular diagnosis of enterotoxin C gene was 39.75 and about the ELISA test the result was 37.34. Conclusion: The role of Bacterial superantigens was considered in the pathogenesis of Rheumatoid arthritis, but it's origin is unknown. Regardless of whether it is endogenous or exogenous origin may be provide a good model for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. However, further study is needed the finding of this study might be most important in related pathophysiology of RA disease. Copyright (C) 2017, Mohammad Reza Ataee.