title: Autoantigens: the critical partner in initiating and propagating systemic autoimmunity.
abstract: The increasing recognition that cancer is frequently associated with an autoantibody response, and observations that systemic autoimmunity is sometimes associated with the diagnosis of a variety of malignancies (many detected near the onset of autoimmune disease), strongly underscore a potential mechanistic connection between cancer immunity and systemic autoimmunity. Accumulating data suggest that autoantigens are critical partners in driving the autoimmune response. Furthermore, unique changes in antigen expression and conformation in the immunizing tumor and the target tissue may play a role in antigen selection and ongoing damage. This construct has important implications for diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of autoimmunity and, potentially, cancer immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins University, Mason F. Lord Building, Central Tower, Suite 4100, Room 411, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Wei D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Duan-Porter
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Casciola-Rosen
authors.forename: Antony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosen
mesh_terms: D001324:Autoantigens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens