Lupus findings open new paradigm for autoimmune disease

A recent discovery has found a previously unexamined immune reaction in patients with lupus, a fluctuating disease that causes inflammation and other problems in a variety of organ systems.

The researchers observed that the lupus patients in their study have encountered totally new abnormal peptides – tiny chains of amino acids – produced by aberrant splicing of their own messenger RNA. Messenger RNA acts as a liaison between the cell’s DNA code and the places in a cell where proteins are made. mRNA brings in the instructions, then directs the manufacturing.

“The importance of our finding is that they suggest the possibility of a completely new paradigm of autoimmune disease,” said Dr. Tomas Mustelin, professor and head (Rheumatology) and co-senior author of the article reporting these results Oct. 29 in Nature.