We found multimolecular antigenic mimicry of arthritogenic autoantigens and peptides from several other "self" or foreign antigens sharing amino acid sequence homologies. Many of these new mimotopes induced arthritis and/or uveitis upon immunization in Lewis rats, indicating a role for multiple antigens in the initiation of a certain autoimmune disease.

Stiff-person syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterized by stiffness of skeletal muscles with superimposed spasms. The syndrome is a putative autoimmune disease occurring as an idiopathic or paraneoplastic condition. It is often associated with antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) or, less commonly, to the 128 kD synaptic protein later amphiphysin (AMPH) and few other aut...

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is responsible for most cases of nephrotic syndrome in adults [1]. Although spontaneous remission may occur in some cases and several therapeutic options are now available [2–4], in a significant number of patients the response to therapy is poor and the risk of cardiovascular events or kidney disease progression remains high. Prognostic markers in IMN wo...