Systemic lupus erythematosus and the type I interferon system

Abstract

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have ongoing interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) production and serum IFN-alpha levels are correlated with both disease activity and severity. Recent studies of patients with SLE have demonstrated the presence of endogenous IFN-alpha inducers in such individuals, consisting of small immune complexes (ICs) containing IgG and DNA. These ICs act specifically on natural IFN-alpha-producing cells (NIPCs), often termed plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs). Given the fact that the NIPC/PDC has a key role in both the innate and adaptive immune response, as well as the many immunoregulatory effects of IFN-alpha, these observations might be important for the understanding of the etiopathogenesis of SLE. In this review we briefly describe the biology of the type I IFN system, with emphasis on inducers, producing cells ( especially NIPCs/PDCs), IFN-alpha actions and target immune cells that might be relevant in SLE. On the basis of this information and results from studies in SLE patients, we propose a hypothesis that explains how NIPCs/PDCs become activated and have a pivotal etiopathogenic role in SLE. This hypothesis also indicates new therapeutic targets in this autoimmune disease

Published in

Arthritis Research and Therapy
2003, volume: 5, number: 2, pages: 68-75
Publisher: BIOMED CENTRAL LTD

SLU Authors

• Alm, Gunnar

  • Department of Molecular Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Clinical Medicine
Rheumatology and Autoimmunity

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/ar625

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/1047