Anti-PAD2 antibody for treating and evaluating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases

A method for detecting anti-PAD2 antibodies in a subject having Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), comprising:

• a) obtaining a biological sample from a subject, wherein the biological sample is blood, plasma, serum, or saliva;
• b) providing a substrate having a first capture probe bound thereto, wherein the capture probe comprises peptidyl arginine deiminase 2 (PAD2) protein or a portion or fragment thereof which comprises an antigen recognized by autoantibodies present in subjects;
• c) contacting the substrate having the capture probe bound thereto with the biological sample from the subject;
• d) measuring the amount of a complex of the capture probe and the anti-PAD2 antibodies formed by step c);
• e) providing a reference level sample;
• f) comparing the amount of a complex of the capture probe and the anti-PAD2 antibodies formed from the subject to the amount of a complex of the capture probe and antibodies formed from the reference level sample;
• and
• g) identifying the subject as having a better prognosis for not developing a more severe form of RA when the amount of a complex of the capture probe and the anti-PAD2 antibodies formed from the subject is increased compared to the amount of a complex of the capture probe and the antibodies formed from the reference level sample;
• and
• h) providing a less aggressive form of treatment of inflammation to the subject identified as having a better prognosis for not developing a more severe form of RA.