Abstract: Antagonistic small-molecule compounds having a function of inhibiting endosomal Toll-like receptors (TLRs), more specifically, a small-molecule compound for inhibiting TLR3/7/8/9 signaling pathways, a composition for inhibiting Toll-like receptors, containing the compound; and a composition for preventing or treating autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, or viral diseases are disclosed. The novel compound shows very significant results in a systemic lupus erythematosus animal model by not only preventing TNF-? secretion induced by poly I:C (TLR3 agonist), imiquimod (TLR7 agonist), TL8-506 (TLR8 agonist), or ODN2395 (TLR9 agonist), but also inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines. This suggests that the compound is also useful for the prevention or treatment of TLR3, TLR7, TLR8 or TLR9-associated autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases and viral diseases.

Abstract: A peptide inhibiting a Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway is disclosed. The peptide strongly binds to a TIR-containing molecule to inhibit the TLR, in particular, the TLR4 signaling pathway. A fusion peptide in which a cell-penetrating peptide is conjugated to said peptide; a TLR4 antagonist comprising said peptide or said fusion peptide; and compositions and methods for preventing or treating autoimmune diseases or inflammatory diseases are disclosed. The peptide exhibits an inhibitory effect on a wide range of TLR signaling pathways including TLR4, blocks MyD88- and TRIF-dependent TLR4 pathways, and has a substantial disease-alleviating effect in mouse models of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and thus can be usefully utilized as therapeutics for immune-related diseases and inflammatory diseases that require negative control of TLR.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosus using an antigen protein that binds specifically to an SMYD3 autoantibody present in body fluid of a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus. The diagnostic method uses a non-invasive biological sample such as blood, and thus may diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus very conveniently without burdening the patient, unlike conventional methods. In addition, the method has high specificity and sensitivity, and thus may be effectively used for early diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus.