Janus-like effects of type I interferon in autoimmune diseases.
In multiple sclerosis, type I interferon (IFN) is considered immune-modulatory, and recombinant forms of IFN-β are the most prescribed treatment for this disease. This is in contrast to most other autoimmune disorders, because type I IFN contributes to the pathologies. Even within the relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) population, 30-50% of MS patients are non-responsive to this treatment, and it consistently worsens neuromyelitis optica, a disease similar to RRMS. In this article, we discuss the recent advances in the field of autoimmunity and introduce the theory explain how type I IFNs can be pro-inflammatory in disease that is predominantly driven by a Th17 response and are therapeutic when disease is predominantly Th1.
Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5316, USA. axterobe@stanford.edu
Robert C
RC
Axtell
Chander
C
Raman
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004679:Encephalomyelitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D007370:Interferon Type I; D016899:Interferon-beta