Autoimmune diseases autoantibody targets

Prevalence, Sex Distribution, Autoantibody Targets and Major Areas of Environmental Research Concerning Selected Autoimmune Diseases. 

Systemic lupus erythematous is an autoimmune disease characterized by a particular spectrum of autoantibodies against many cellular components, including chromatin, ribonucleoprotein, and cell membrane phospholipids. In this disorder, the body makes these antibodies against its own components. snRNPs are one of the targets of these antibodies. In fact, snRNPs were discovered as a result of studies using antibodies obtained from patients with SLE. 

Of 62 initially autoantibody-negative patients treated with interferon alfa for chronic hepatitis C for a mean of 8 months, three developed antibodies to 21b-hydroxylase, a sensitive assay of adrenocortical autoimmunity (528). However, there were no cases of Addison s disease or subclinical adrenal insufficiency. This study suggested that the adrenal cortex is another potential target organ of autoimmune effects of interferon alfa, along with thyroid and pancreatic islet cells. 

Boulassel, M.R., N. Deggouj, J.P. Tomasi, and M. Gersdorff. 2001. Inner ear autoantibodies and their targets in patients with autoimmune inner ear diseases. Acta Oto-Laryngologica 121(1) 28-34. 

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