Interferons in Sjogren's disease: current status and future prospects.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Rheumatology
• Autoimmune Diseases

Background:

• Sjögren's disease (SjD) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic immune activation.
• The interferon (IFN) system, specifically the 'IFN signature,' is central to SjD pathogenesis.
• Aberrant expression and signaling of type I, II, and III IFNs involve complex crosstalk between epithelial and immune cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of the three IFN families in SjD pathogenesis.
• To highlight recent research advancements in targeting IFN pathways for SjD therapy.
• To integrate clinical and translational perspectives for future SjD research and treatment.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current knowledge on IFN families in SjD.
• Analysis of recent research on IFN pathway dysregulation in SjD.
• Synthesis of clinical trial data and immunological endotypes in SjD.

Main Results:

• The 'IFN signature' is a hallmark of SjD, involving complex interactions of multiple IFN types.
• Therapeutic targeting of IFN pathways shows promising but variable outcomes in clinical trials.
• Patient stratification and understanding immunological endotypes are crucial for optimizing IFN-targeted therapies.

Conclusions:

• Interferons play a critical role in SjD pathogenesis, making them promising therapeutic targets.
• Further research is needed to refine IFN-targeted therapies by considering disease heterogeneity and endotypes.
• A comprehensive understanding of IFN networks is essential for advancing SjD treatment strategies.