title: Interferons in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases: regulation and roles.
abstract: Several lines of evidence strongly implicate type I interferons (IFN-α and β) and IFN-signaling in the pathogenesis of certain autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Accordingly, genome-wide association studies have identified polymorphisms in the type I IFN-signaling pathways. Other studies also indicate that a feed-forward loop of type I IFN production, which involves sensing of cytoplasmic nucleic acids by sensors, contributes to the development of immunopathology. In addition, a mutually positive regulatory feedback loop between type I IFNs and estrogen receptor-α may contribute to a gender bias, thus resulting in an increased production of type I IFNs and associated immunopathology in women. Increased levels of type I IFNs have numerous immunomodulatory functions for both the innate and adaptive immune responses. Given that the IFN-β also has some anti-inflammatory roles, identifying molecular links among certain genotypes, cytokine profiles, and associated phenotypes in patients with autoimmune inflammatory diseases is likely to improve our understanding of autoimmunity-associated pathogenesis and suboptimal outcomes following standard therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA. divaker.choubey@uc.edu
authors.forename: Divaker
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Choubey
authors.forename: Kamal D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Moudgil
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D018448:Models, Immunological; D012737:Sex Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016899:Interferon-beta