| Abstract: | Anti-SS-A/Ro and anti-SS-B/La autoantibodies are diagnostically important in Sj?gren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus. However, the relationship between generation of these autoantibodies and the pathogenesis of the diseases remains to be solved. Several lines of autoepitope mapping of the target molecules revealed that multiple epitopes on the molecules were recognized by sera from patients with the diseases. This indicates that these autoantigens themselves drive the autoimmunity, that is, the molecules specific autoreactive T cells are activated. Further studies to elucidate how the autoreactive T cells become activated would be of help in understanding the pathogenesis of the diseases. |
