Small non-coding Y RNAs were first discovered in 1981 as components of ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) complexed with Ro60 and La proteins, autoantigens which are targets of the immune system in patients suffering from the autoimmune diseases systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sjögren's syndrome (Hendrick et al., 1981, Lerner et al., 1981). Here, RO60 is linked to autoimmune disease.