title: Type I interferon blockade in systemic lupus erythematosus: where do we stand?
abstract: SLE is an autoimmune condition characterized by loss of tolerance to chromatin constituents and the production of ANAs. The majority of SLE patients display spontaneous expression of type I IFN-induced genes in circulating mononuclear cells and peripheral tissues, and type I IFNs play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease via the sustained activation of autoreactive T and B cells necessary for the production of pathogenic autoantibodies. Several IFN-blocking strategies are currently being evaluated in clinical trials: monoclonal antibodies directed against IFN-α and type I IFN-α receptor (IFNAR), as well as active immunization against IFN-α. This review describes the rationale behind these trials and the results obtained, and discusses the perspectives for further development of these drugs.
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Rhumatologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain and Service de Rhumatologie, Clinique Universitaire Saint-Luc, Bruxelles, Belgium.Pôle de Rhumatologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain and Service de Rhumatologie, Clinique Universitaire Saint-Luc, Bruxelles, Belgium. Bernard.Lauwerys@uclouvain.be.
authors.forename: Bernard R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Lauwerys
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Rhumatologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain and Service de Rhumatologie, Clinique Universitaire Saint-Luc, Bruxelles, Belgium.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ducreux
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Rhumatologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain and Service de Rhumatologie, Clinique Universitaire Saint-Luc, Bruxelles, Belgium.Pôle de Rhumatologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain and Service de Rhumatologie, Clinique Universitaire Saint-Luc, Bruxelles, Belgium.
authors.forename: Frédéric A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Houssiau
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007370:Interferon Type I; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta
keywords: interferon blockade; interferon-alpha; interferon-alpha kinoid; rontalizumab; sifalimumab; systemic lupus erythematosus; type I interferon