Absence of Epstein-Barr Virus DNA in Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibody-Expressing B Cells of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA)-expressing B cells derived from peripheral blood of seven Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and synovial fluid of one additional EBV-seropositive RA patient, were isolated by flow cytometry.