Our project has two
main aims. Our first aim is to determine
possible MHC class II-associated antigenic
peptides derived from Sjögren’s
syndrome (SjS) autoantigens, using a computational
model based on the crystal structure of
I-Ag7 complex to the GAD65 peptide. Our
second aim is to determine how MHC class
II and autoantigen expression and distribution
are different in lacrimal glands from BALB/c
and NOD mice, using immunostaining and confocal
microscopy. |