Our Journey from the Study of Human Autoantibodies to the microRNA World.

Our discovery of a novel cytoplasmic domain in HEp-2 cells recognized by the autoimmune serum of a patient led us on a journey into the world of microRNAs (miRNA). Our journey began with the identification and cloning of the novel glycine (G)–tryptophan (W)-rich protein, GW182, and its close interaction with the miRNA-binding protein, argonaute2 (Ago2). Discovering the important relevance of GW182 with miRNA function was the igniting force that steered us toward understanding the role of miRNAs in autoimmunity and the innate immune response. This brief paper highlights our journey and key findings.