Type I interferon and lupus.
OBJECTIVE
Patients with lupus have signs of an ongoing production of type I interferons (IFNs) that are of importance both for the etiopathogenesis and the clinical manifestations. In this review, we summarize the latest information concerning the type I IFN system in lupus.


RESULTS
Activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells are responsible for the IFNalpha production in lupus and can be found in target organs such as glomeruli. The plasmacytoid dendritic cells are triggered by interferogenic immune complexes, and produced IFNalpha activates the immune system and impairs T-regulatory cell function. Autoantibodies, which can form interferogenic immune complexes, are not only present in serum of lupus patients but also in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations. There is a strong association between risk to develop lupus and gene variants connected to the production and effects of type I IFN. Risk variants can not only cause either increased serum IFNalpha activity or sensitivity but also a more severe disease phenotype. Administration of monoclonal anti-IFNalpha antibodies to lupus patients downregulates several proinflammatory pathways and reduces disease activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing evidence indicates that the activated type I IFN system in lupus is critical in the etiopathogenesis of the disease and is an important therapeutic target.
Rönnblom
Lars
L
Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Rheumatology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. Lars.Ronnblom@medsci.uu.se
Alm
Gunnar V
GV
Eloranta
Maija-Leena
ML
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D015551:Autoimmunity; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D018448:Models, Immunological; D012307:Risk Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D015415:Biomarkers; D007370:Interferon Type I