Mimicking Self-Antigens with Synthetic Peptides in Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

In systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the interaction between hyperactive T cells and B cells causes a dysregulated production of autoantibodies that can lead to tissue damage, with subsequent impaired organ function and disability. The available information on the immune cells that participate in this process has led to the development of several approaches that can influence disease course. One of these approaches uses immunomodulatory peptides that mimic selected sequences involved in the interaction between T and B cells. Preclinical studies in animal models have given encouraging results, and synthetic peptidebased intervention in human autoimmune rheumatic diseases is now approaching translational work into clinical settings.