Model disorders to understand autoimmunity

Autoimmune disease is the third leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western hemisphere, surpassed only by heart disease and cancer.

Our immune system has evolved to combat pathogenic microorganisms, but while the ability to raise a strong, lasting and efficient immune response has conferred a strong evolutionary advantage; this sometimes occurs at the expense of an increased risk for reactivity to self.Fundamental to the understanding of harmful immune responses is identification of the exact molecular targets of T and B cells, as well as the pathways involved in initiation and propagation of the autoimmune diseases.

Novel technologies using proteomics arrays, serum arrays, phage-display libraries expressing sequences from the majority of human viruses and large-scale sequencing of germline variable genes for B and T cells will be used to determine the exact autoantigen targets, gene distribution for B and T cell receptor variable region among patients and controls and identify possible triggering viruses.This project will not only improve our tools to diagnose and to identify individuals at risk of developing disease but will also provide us with a deeper understanding of the autoimmune processes.

This knowledge may assist us in developing novel strategies to prevent and treat autoimmune disease.