title: Inhibition of IFN-gamma as a method of treatment of various autoimmune diseases, including skin diseases.
abstract: We pioneered anticytokine therapy (ACT) for autoimmune diseases (ADs). In 1974, we proposed that hyperproduced interferon (IFN) can bring AD and anti-IFN can be therapeutic. In 1989, we proposed removing tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha together with certain types of IFN to treat various ADs. We found IFN in patients with different ADs and conducted the first clinical trial of ACT in 1975. Anti-IFN-gamma and anti-TNF-alpha work in similar ways, but the latter brings serious complications in some patients. We obtained good, sometimes striking, therapeutic effects treating many different Th-1-mediated ADs with anti-IFN-gamma, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), corneal transplant rejection, and various autoimmune skin diseases such as psoriasis, alopecia areata, vitiligo, acne vulgaris, and others. Anti-IFN-gamma was in some ways superior to anti-TNF-alpha, which was ineffective in MS. Anti-IFN-gamma therapy holds great promise for treating many Th-1 ADs, especially skin diseases.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Infection Disease, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI 2903, USA. Bskurkovich@pol.net
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Skurkovich
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skurkovich
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D007371:Interferon-gamma