RNA derived small RNAs in Sjogren's syndrome: Candidate biomarkers?

Anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies are important in pathogenesis and diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome (SS). Ro60, Ro52 and La are RNA binding proteins of Y RNA, which were discovered more than three decades ago. Significance of Y RNA is not appreciated as much as Ro and La in SS. It can be hypothesised that 50-YsRNA, short fragment derived from Y RNA may be recognized by TLR7 in pDC, which induces type I interferon signature in SS. New genomics tools, namely RNA seq, enables assay of 50-YsRNA in blood. 50-YsRNA has the potential to be a novel biomarker of SS.