Trinucleotide repeat-containing gene 6A protein (GW182) plays a role in RNA-mediated gene silencing by both micro-RNAs (miRNAs) and short interfering RNAs (siRNAs). GW182 is required for miRNA-dependent repression of translation and for siRNA-dependent endonucleolytic cleavage of complementary mRNAs by argonaute family proteins. Antibodies against GW182 are found in sera from patients with Sjoegren syndrome (SS), ataxia and sensor neuropathy diseases that developed autoantibodies against protein of the GWB structure. Autoantibodies were mapped to the GW-rich mid-part, the non-GW-rich region and the C-terminus of the protein.