title: Anti-RNP immunity: implications for tissue injury and the pathogenesis of connective tissue disease.
abstract: Certain autoantibodies are characteristic of autoimmune disease manifestations and contribute to organ pathology. The presence of high-titer antibodies to U1-RNP are associated with mixed connective tissue disease, although these antibodies may also be present in systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis. However, the role of antibodies to U1-RNP in the pathogenesis of connective tissue disease remains unclear. Data from recent experimental studies promote the hypothesis that U1-RNP antibodies participate in both innate and adaptive immune responses, implicating them in the pathogenesis of connective tissue disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA. mpkeith@bethesda.med.navy.mil
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Keith
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moratz
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Tsokos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D017412:Ribonucleoprotein, U1 Small Nuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D017412:Ribonucleoprotein, U1 Small Nuclear; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors