Interferon-gamma in autoimmunity.
Autoimmune disorders are characterized by abrogation of self-tolerance, resulting in emergence of activated self-reactive lymphocyte clones that trigger or maintain inflammatory reactions in specific organs. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), as well as other cytokines, plays an important role as a regulator of the activation of self-reactive lymphocytes and of bystander and accessory cells that are involved in the autoimmune inflammatory response. In experimental models of autoimmunity, endogenous IFN-gamma has invariably been found to profoundly affect the disease course. However, it acts in one way in some diseases and in the opposite way in others.
Billiau
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Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute, University of Leuven, Belgium.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D015551:Autoimmunity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007369:Interferon Inducers / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology*; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D007369:Interferon Inducers; D007371:Interferon-gamma