Interferon-directed therapies for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: a critical update.

The interferon (IFN) pathway, especially type I IFN, plays a critical role in the immunopathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We have gained significant insights into this pathway over the past two decades, including a better understanding of the key mediators of inflammation upstream and downstream of type I IFN. This has led to the identification of multiple potential targets for the treatment of SLE, for which a significant unmet need remains due to the failure of many patients to adequately respond to standard-of-care medications. Unfortunately, most new therapies in SLE have disappointed in preclinical or clinical trials to date, including a number that target type I IFN. Nevertheless, several IFN-directed therapies aimed at specific steps within this immunologic pathway have recently shown promise, and additional agents are in the treatment pipeline. In this review, we focus on the results of key therapeutic studies targeting the type I IFN pathway and discuss the future state of IFN-blockade in SLE. © 2021. International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR).

Citation

Yashaar Chaichian, Vibeke Strand. Interferon-directed therapies for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus: a critical update. Clinical rheumatology. 2021 Aug;40(8):3027-3037

Mesh Tags

Substances

PMID: 33411137

search → result