New lessons about old molecules: how type I interferons shape Th1/Th17-mediated autoimmunity in the CNS

Type I interferons (IFN-alpha and IFN-beta) were discovered more than five decades ago and are widely used for the treatment of human autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite their highly beneficial features, the precise mechanism of action remains speculative. Given the frequent side effects of IFN-alpha/beta therapy, understanding its action in an in vivo setting is vital to further improve this therapeutic approach. Major advances in our understanding of the IFN biology have recently been made and are particularly based on the combination of powerful genome-wide expression analysis in humans with gene-targeting techniques available for basic research. The recent discovery of a novel T-cell subset, Th17 cells, sheds new light on type I IFNs in MS.