Work

Janus‐like effects of type I interferon in autoimmune diseases

Year: 2012

Type: review

Abstract: 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.

Source: Immunological Reviews

DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-065x.2012.01131.x

Authors: Robert C. Axtell, Chander Raman

Institutions: Stanford University, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Language: English

Topic: Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies

Subfield: Clinical Neurology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke