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High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes
Published on: March 24, 2015
The type I interferon system in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies
Ingrid E Lundberg1, Sevim Barbasso Helmers
1Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital - Solna, Stockholm, Sweden. ingrid.lundberg@ki.se
Autoimmunity
|March 2, 2010
Summary
Type I interferons play a role in inflammatory myopathies like polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM). An interferon signature in muscle and blood cells correlates with disease activity in PM and DM patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
- Neurology
Background:
- Polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), and inclusion body myositis (IBM) are chronic inflammatory myopathies causing muscle weakness.
- Autoantibodies, notably anti-Jo-1, are frequently found in myositis patients and linked to other conditions like interstitial lung disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of type I interferons in the pathogenesis of inflammatory myopathies.
- To explore the correlation between interferon expression and disease activity in PM and DM.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on type I interferon involvement in myositis.
- Analysis of gene and protein expression of interferon signatures in muscle tissue.
- Correlation of peripheral blood type I interferon expression with disease activity.
Main Results:
- An interferon signature (gene and protein expression) is present in the muscle tissue of DM and PM patients.
- Type I interferon expression in peripheral blood cells correlates with disease activity in DM and PM.
- Evidence suggests viral infections or endogenous factors can induce type I interferon in myositis.
Conclusions:
- Type I interferons are implicated in the disease mechanisms of polymyositis and dermatomyositis.
- The findings are particularly relevant for juvenile and adult DM, and anti-Jo-1 or anti-SSA positive PM.
- Further research into type I interferon pathways may offer therapeutic targets for myositis.
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