Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients, HLA-DRB1*04:01 and possible connection to mycobacteria infection

[Violeta]

In Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients, HLA-DRB1*04:01 and Rheumatoid Nodules Are Associated With ACPA to a Particular Fibrin Epitope
Guillaume Larid1,
June, 2021

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.692041/full#:~:text=all


It's the HLA-DRB1 part of this study that I am looking at.

I found it when I followed this information while looking into shingles because of post-herpetic pain. I also have been having intermittent fairly severe issues in my knees and leg muscles.

Anti–IFN-γ autoantibodies in adults with disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial infections are associated with HLA-DRB1* 16: 02 and HLA-DQB1* 05: 02 and the reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus infection. Blood. (2013) 121:1357–66. doi: 10.1182/blood-2012-08-452482

I have to think about this more, but do you think this could mean that a mycobacterial infection is the root cause of shingles activation?

 

[Violeta]

This is the study in which varicella zosters virus is mentioned with respect to anti-INFy autoantibodies and mycobacterium.

In conclusion, our data suggest that anti–IFN-γ autoantibodies may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of dNTM infections and reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus infection and are associated with HLA-DRB1*16:02 and HLA-DQB1*05:02

Anti–IFN-γ autoantibodies in adults with disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial infections are associated with HLA-DRB1*16:02 and HLA-DQB1*05:02 and the reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus infection

Chih-Yu Chi, Chen-Chung Chu, et al

February, 2013

 

[Violeta]

Panax ginseng seems to be good for nontuberculous mycobacterium infections.

Case Report: Kampo Medicine for Non-tuberculous Mycobacterium Pulmonary Disease

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8601257/

One case of mycobacterium pneumonia:

Treated with: Hence, a bukuryoshigyakuto (Panax ginseng 1g, Aconiti tuber 1g, Glycyrrhizae radix 2g, Poria cocos 5g and Zingiber siccatum 2g) decoction (to infuse a total of 11 g of each herb with 400 ml of water for 30–40 min to make 200 ml, and to take in two divided doses) was started after a medical examination based on Kampo principles, while discontinuing the current treatment with clarithromycin, rifampicin and ethambutol.

A 77-year-old lean woman had been diagnosed with Mycobacterium intracellulare pulmonary infection 6 years earlier, and had received the standard multidrug treatment 5 years later at a former hospital due to worsening of her symptoms of cough, breathlessness and hemoptysis. However, the treatment was discontinued within a year due to the development of adverse events. She refused the guideline-based antibacterial treatment, and asked for Kampo medicine instead. Bukuryoshigyakuto was subsequently prescribed, which led to cough and sputum, especially hemosputum, being well controlled. With 3 years of Kampo medicine treatment, she gained weight and her hemosputum disappeared. High-resolution computed tomography images showed improvement in her lung condition, and her sputum smear culture was negative for acid-fast bacillus.