Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Anti-Nuclear Antibody Screening Using HEp-2 Cells
Published on: June 23, 2014
The U1-snRNP complex: structural properties relating to autoimmune pathogenesis in rheumatic diseases
Nicole H Kattah1, Michael G Kattah, Paul J Utz
1Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. nahanick@stanford.edu
Abstract:
The U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) is a target of autoreactive B cells and T cells in several rheumatic diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). We propose that inherent structural properties of this autoantigen complex, including common RNA-binding motifs, B and T-cell epitopes, and a unique stimulatory RNA molecule, underlie its susceptibility as a target of the autoimmune response. Immune mechanisms that may contribute to overall U1-snRNP immunogenicity include epitope spreading through B and T-cell interactions, apoptosis-induced modifications, and toll-like receptor (TLR) activation through stimulation by U1-snRNA. We conclude that understanding the interactions between U1-snRNP and the immune system will provide insights into why certain patients develop anti-U1-snRNP autoimmunity, and more importantly how to effectively target therapies against this autoimmune response.
Related Concept Videos
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction
Autoimmune Disorders
Concept and Mechanism of Autoimmune Diseases
The immune system...
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing
The chromatin structure, especially...
Additional Subnuclear Structures
The nucleus contains many membrane-less subnuclear organelles or nuclear bodies, such as nucleoli, Cajal bodies, speckles, paraspeckles, etc. These nuclear...
