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Autoimmune Diseases Are Connected with Disturbances in Cytokine Synthesis, and Therapy with IFN‐γ Blockers Is Their Main Pathogenetic Treatment
Author(s) -
SKURKOVICH BORIS,
SKURKOVICH SIMON
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1398.020
Subject(s) - immunology , cytokine , interferon gamma , autoimmune disease , immune system , medicine , antibody
: Development of autoimmune process in the organism is mainly due to disturbances in cytokine production. Hyperproduction of cytokines can be induced by certain viruses, bacteria, genetic factors, and other triggers. Cytokines act in an interrelated immune cascade with interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) playing a central role. Blocking IFN‐γ is the safest and most effective method of treatment of TH1‐mediated autoimmune diseases, although blocking other cytokines in the cascade may lead to some therapeutic effect as well. Disturbances in the synthesis of IFN‐γ and, possibly, IFN‐α may lead to autoantigen formation. Antibodies to IFN‐γ have shown very pronounced therapeutic effect in multiple autoimmune conditions, especially in autoimmune skin diseases. Anticytokine therapy that we have pioneered may be the main pathogenetic method of treatment of a variety of autoimmune conditions .