This project aims to understand why and how in certain autoimmune diseases autoantibodies, i.e. antibodies that bind to body's own structures, are produced. These autoantibodies are sometimes directly causing the symptoms of the autoimmune diseases and currently we do not have means to remove the cells producing them for good. We study patient samples and cell lines from three different autoimmune diseases that share common features: Myasthenia gravis, Sjögren's syndrome, and Autoimmune PolyEndocrinopathy, Candidiasis, and Ectodermal Dystrophy (APECED). In all of these autoimmune diseases, patients have different kinds of autoantibodies. By identifying common mechanisms how autoantibodies are produced in different autoimmune diseases, we hope to pave way towards developing new effective and safe treatments for these diseases.

2023

2027