Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract

There has been significant progress in our understanding of the pathogenesis of AS. The advent of genome-wide association studies has increased the known loci associated with AS to more than 40. The endoplasmic reticulum resident aminopeptidases (ERAP) 1 and 2 were identified in this manner and are of particular interest. There appears to be a genetic as well as a functional interaction of ERAP1 and 2 with HLA-B27 based on the known functions of these molecules. Recent studies on the structure, immunological effects and the peptide-trimming properties of ERAP 1 and 2 have helped to provide insight into their pathogenic potential in AS. In this review, we explore the role of ERAP 1 and 2 in the pathogenesis of AS.

Keywords: NK cell; T cell response; aminopeptidase; endoplasmic reticulum; endoplasmic reticulum resident aminopeptidase 1; endoplasmic reticulum resident aminopeptidase 2; misfolding; peptide; unfolded protein response.