Cover Page
The handle
http://hdl.handle.net/1887/136520
holds various files of this Leiden University
dissertation.
Author: Hafkenscheid, L.
Title: Anti Citrullinated Protein Antibodies-IgG variable domain glycosylation in
rheumatoid arthritis
Stellingen behorende bij het proefschrift getiteld:
Anti Citrullinated Protein Antibodies-IgG Variable Domain Glycosylation
in Rheumatoid Arthritis
1. ACPA-IgG variable domain glycosylation is a feature of rheumatoid arthritis shared among patients with different ethnic backgrounds, indicating a common disease development in these groups. (in this thesis)
2. ACPA-IgG variable domain glycosylation is a promising marker for the prediction of development of rheumatoid arthritis, already before the first symptoms arise. (in this thesis)
3. IgG Fc glycosylation differs from the glycosylation in the variable domain. This indicates a site-specific regulation of the glycosylation, influenced by the protein itself. (in this thesis)
4. The reason and/or function of the variable domain glycosylation of ACPA-IgG is poorly understood. However, understanding this phenomenon is instrumental in understanding the disease
development of ACPA positive patients. (in this thesis)
5. The rheumatology field is predominantly focused on ACPA positive disease. However, to characterize and treat ACPA negative patients more accurately, a better understanding of autoantibody negative rheumatoid arthritis is warranted.
6. ACPA-IgG is present in healthy people as well as in Rheumatoid arthritis patients and patients that are in sustained drug-free remission. This suggests that ACPA are not the main driver of disease. 7. Although glycosylation is the most common post/co-translation modification, in many research
fields scientists do not realize they are working on glycosylation related proteins, peptides or lipids. 8. Although the promise of glycosylation is mostly seen in the field of biomarker discovery,
modulation of glycosylation can be used to enhance the effector function and half-life of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and other therapeutic proteins.
9. “Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid” (A. Einstein, year unknown). The current education and grading system restricts creativity and other types of talent expressed in a non-standard way.
10. A scientific career follows the following principle, “success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” (W. Churchill around 1950s)
11. It is necessary that scientists can look at their own work from the perspective of the patients. This will help them to respect and value their own research as well as the patient material they are handling.
