the role of ifn-gamma in systemic lupus erythematosus a challenge to the th1th2 paradigm in autoimmunityifn-gamma在系统性红斑狼疮的角色挑战th1th2范式在自身免疫.pdfVIP

Available online /content/3/3/136 Commentary The role of IFN- in systemic lupus erythematosus: a challenge to the Th1/Th2 paradigm in autoimmunity Argyrios N Theofilopoulos, Stefanos Koundouris, Dwight H Kono and Brian R Lawson The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Immunology/IMM3, La Jolla, CA, USA Correspondence: Argyrios N Theofilopoulos, MD, Professor, Department of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road/IMM3, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. Tel: +1 (858) 784 8135; fax: +1 (858) 784 8361; e-mail: argyrio@ Received: 15 January 2001 Arthritis Res 2001, 3:136–141 Accepted: 29 January 2001 © 2001 BioMed Central Ltd Published: 14 February 2001 (Print ISSN 1465-9905; Online ISSN 1465-9913) Abstract The classification of T helper cells into type 1 (Th1) and type 2 (Th2) led to the hypothesis that Th1 cells and their cytokines (interleukin [IL]-2, interferon [IFN]-) are involved in cell-mediated autoimmune diseases, and that Th2 cells and their cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13) are involved in autoantibody(humoral)-mediated autoimmune diseases. However, this paradigm has been refuted by recent studies in several induced and spontaneous mouse models of systemic lupus erythematosus, which showed that IFN- is a major effector molecule in this disease. These and additional findings, reviewed here, suggest that these two cross-talking classes of cytokines can exert autoimmune disease-promoting or disease-inhibiting effects without predictability or strict adherence to the Th1- versus-Th2 dualism. Keywords: cytokines, IFN-, lupus, Th1, Th2