title: Illuminating the role of type I IFNs in colitis.
abstract: Recently, type I interferons IFN-alpha and IFN-beta (IFN-alpha/beta) have been evaluated in pilot clinical trials for the treatment of active ulcerative colitis. However, the underlying mechanisms that may contribute to a potential therapeutic effect are incompletely understood. A new study in this issue demonstrates a protective role for IFN-alpha/beta, induced by activation of a Toll-like receptor 9-dependent pathway, in a rodent model of experimental colitis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology, I. Medical Clinic, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wirtz
authors.forename: Markus F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Neurath
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000276:immunology*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000276:immunology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016899:Interferon-beta