title: PTPN22: setting thresholds for autoimmunity.
abstract: The 620W allelic variant of the intracellular tyrosine phosphatase, PTPN22, is associated with a number of different autoimmune disorders, and this provides direct evidence for common mechanisms underlying many of these diseases. The associated allele appears to influence thresholds for T cell receptor signaling, and a variety of disease models involving both central and peripheral tolerance can be proposed. However, given the fact that PTPN22 is expressed in a variety of immunologically relevant cell types, the precise mechanisms for these associations remain unclear. In general, the PTPN22 620W allele appears to play a role in autoimmune disorders that have a prominent humoral component, suggesting that further investigation of PTPN22 activity in B cells will be useful. From a genetic perspective, the data highlights the genetic heterogeneity underlying autoimmunity in different ethnic groups.
authors.affiliation: Robert S. Boas Center for Genomics and Human Genetics, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore LIJ Health System, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, United States. peterg@nshs.edu
authors.forename: Peter K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Gregersen
authors.forename: Hye-Soon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Franak
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Batliwalla
authors.forename: Ann B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Begovich
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D054596:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 22; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000235:genetics*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; C516765:PTPN22 protein, human; D054596:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 22; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases