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Review
. 2011 Dec;31(12):857-65.
doi: 10.1089/jir.2011.0101.

Interferons in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases: regulation and roles

Divaker Choubey  1 , Kamal D Moudgil
Affiliations
Review

Interferons in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases: regulation and roles

Divaker Choubey et al. J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2011 Dec.

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.

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Figures

FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.
Proposed differential regulation and roles of the IFN-α and IFN-β in autoimmunity and autoimmunity-associated inflammatory diseases. pDCs, plasmacytoid dendritic cells; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; MS, multiple sclerosis; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; IFN, interferon.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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