Induction of interferon‐α by immune complexes or liposomes containing systemic lupus erythematosus autoantigen– and Sjögren's syndrome autoantigen–associated RNA

Abstract

Our finding that U1 snRNA and hY1RNA have IFNalpha-inducing capacity indicates that immune complexes containing such RNA, for example U1 snRNP particles, can be at least partly responsible for the ongoing IFNalpha production seen in SLE and SS. These results may help to explain the molecular mechanisms behind the pathogenesis of these and other autoimmune diseases in which autoantibodies to RNA-binding proteins occur.