2024/08/23 by Ivan Talucci, Hans Michael Maric · 1 voice · 1 citation
Medicine · #Autoimmune Neurological Disorders and Treatments #Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research #Peripheral Neuropathies and Disorders
paper · doi:10.1016/j.tips.2024.07.007
openalex publication_date 2024/08/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Autoantibody binding has a central role in autoimmune diseases and has also been linked to cancer, infections, and behavioral disorders. Autoimmune neurological diseases remain misclassified also due to an incomplete understanding of the underlying disease-specific epitopes. Such epitopes are crucial for both pathology and diagnosis, but have historically been overlooked. Recent technological advancements have enabled the exploration of these epitopes, potentially opening novel clinical avenues. The precise identification of novel B and T cell epitopes and their autoreactivity has led to the discovery of autoantigen-specific biomarkers for patients at high risk of autoimmune neurological diseases. In this review, we propose utilizing newly available synthetic and cellular-surface display technologies and guide epitope-focused studies to unlock the potential of disease-specific epitopes for improving diagnosis and treatments. Additionally, we offer recommendations to guide emerging epitope-focused studies to broaden the current landscape.