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SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS

Linking autoimmunity, short telomeres and lung fibrosis in SSc

Nature Reviews Rheumatology volume 17, pages 511–512 (2021)Cite this article

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Short telomere length is implicated in lung diseases and can be caused by mutations in telomere genes. Acquired autoimmunity directed against components of the telomere system is now reported in some patients with systemic sclerosis or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, suggesting a novel explanation for short telomeres in these diseases.

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Fig. 1: Potential origin and role of SSc-associated anti-telomere autoimmunity in short telomeres and ILD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Katja Lakota

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    John Varga

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  1. Katja Lakota
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  2. John Varga
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Correspondence to John Varga.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Lakota, K., Varga, J. Linking autoimmunity, short telomeres and lung fibrosis in SSc. Nat Rev Rheumatol 17, 511–512 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-021-00666-3

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