Abstract

The type I interferons (IFNs) have antiviral, cytostatic and prominent immunomodulatory effects, which all are of great importance during viral infections. However, prolonged exposure of the immune system to type I IFN can break tolerance and initiate an autoimmune reaction, eventually leading to autoimmune disease. Recent observations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have revealed that such individuals have endogenous IFN-alpha inducers, causing an ongoing IFN-alpha production and consequently a continuous stimulation of the immune system. These IFN-alpha inducers consist of small immune complexes (IC) containing DNA or RNA and act on the principal IFN-alpha producing cell, the natural IFN-alpha producing cell (NIPC), also termed the plasmacytoid dendritic cell (PDC). The NIPC/PDC is a key cell in both the innate and adaptive immune response but can also, either directly or via produced IFN-alpha, have a pivotal role in autoimmunity. In this review we summarize recent data concerning NIPC/PDC, including their activation, regulation, function and possible role in autoimmune diseases, especially SLE

Published in

Autoimmunity
2003, Volume: 36, number: 8, pages: 463-472
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

SLU Authors

• Eloranta, Maija-Leena

  • Department of Molecular Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Alm, Gunnar

  • Department of Molecular Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08916930310001602128

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/1053