This project investigates the potential role of somatic mutation in the initiation of diseases other than cancer. Our primary hypothesis is that recurring mutations, both within and across individuals, may trigger autoimmune diseases by generating neoantigens for which the immune system is not tolerant. Long repetitive sequences are known to be mutable both somatically and in the germ-line. We have been able to identify statistically significant associations between genes spanning long tandem repeats and autoantigens that appear in autoimmune diseases.
Publications
Related Publications