title: The Interferon-Signature of Sjögren's Syndrome: How Unique Biomarkers Can Identify Underlying Inflammatory and Immunopathological Mechanisms of Specific Diseases.
abstract: Innate immune responses direct the nature and specificity of downstream adaptive responses in autoimmune diseases. One of the strongest markers of innate immunity is the up-regulated expression of interferon (IFN) and IFN-responsive/stimulated genes (IRGs/ISGs). While multiple IRGs are induced during the innate phase of host responses, transcriptome data suggest unique IRG-signatures for different diseases. Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) is characterized by chronic immune attacks against exocrine glands leading to exocrine dysfunction, plus strong up-regulated expressions of IFN IRG transcripts. Genome-wide transcriptome analyses indicate that differentially expressed IRGs are restricted during disease development and therefore define underlying etiopathological mechanisms. Here we review the innate immune-associated IFN-signature of SjS and show how differential gene expressions of IRG/ISG sets interact molecularly and biologically to identify critical details of SjS etiopathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida , Gainesville, FL , USA ; Center for Orphaned Autoimmune Diseases, University of Florida , Gainesville, FL , USA.
authors.forename: Cuong Quoc
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Ammon Broughton
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Peck
keywords: Sjögren syndrome; animal models; biomarkers; gene expression profiling; human disease; interferons