IFN-?, should not be ignored in SLE

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a typical autoimmune disease with a complex pathogenesis and genetic predisposition. With continued understanding of this disease, it was found that SLE is related to the interferon gene signature. Most studies have emphasized the important role of IFN-alpha in SLE, but our previous study suggested a nonnegligible role of IFN-gamma in SLE. Some scholars previously found that IFN-gamma is abnormally elevated as early as before the classification of SLE and before the emergence of autoantibodies and IFN-alpha. Due to the large overlap between IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma, SLE is mostly characterized by expression of the IFN-alpha gene after onset. Therefore, the role of IFN-gamma in SLE may be underestimated. This article mainly reviews the role of IFN-gamma in SLE and focuses on the nonnegligible role of IFN-gamma in SLE to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the disease.

Automated summary

This article reviews the role of IFN-gamma in SLE and highlights its underestimated significance in the disease.