title: Autoantibodies to heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins.
abstract: Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) are among the most abundant proteins in the eukaryotic cell nucleus and play a direct role in several aspects of the RNA life including splicing, export of the mature RNAs and translation. To date, approximately 30 proteins have been identified. A growing body of evidence points to hnRNPs as an important target of the autoimmune response in rheumatic diseases. Autoantibodies to A and B proteins of the hnRNP complex have been detected in late 1980s in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Beyond their role as diagnostic test in clinical practice, these autoantibodies are starting to be regarded as important tools to obtain deeper insight into the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Furthermore, new anti-hnRNP antibodies have been recognized in the last ten years extending the spectrum of anti-hnRNP reactivity in different autoimmune disorders.
authors.affiliation: Chair and Division of Rheumatology University of Pavia IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo Pavia Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caporali
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bugatti
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bruschi
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cavagna
authors.forename: Carlomaurizio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montecucco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood* / Q000266:history; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D000076245:Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein A1; D034481:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group A-B / Q000276:immunology; D034482:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group C / Q000276:immunology; D034641:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K / Q000276:immunology; D034441:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000097:blood; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; C439930:HNRNPR protein, human; D000076245:Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein A1; D034481:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group A-B; D034482:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Group C; D034641:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K; D034441:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes