Therapeutic Approaches to Type I Interferonopathies

Purpose of Review To review recent scientific advances and therapeutic approaches in the expanding field of type I interferonopathies. Summary Type I interferonopathies represent a genetically and phenotypically heterogenous group of disorders of the innate immune system caused by constitutive activ...
Ausführliche Beschreibung

Purpose of Review To review recent scientific advances and therapeutic approaches in the expanding field of type I interferonopathies. Summary Type I interferonopathies represent a genetically and phenotypically heterogenous group of disorders of the innate immune system caused by constitutive activation of antiviral type I interferon (IFN). Clinically, type I interferonopathies are characterized by autoinflammation and varying degrees of autoimmunity or immunodeficiency. The elucidation of the underlying genetic causes has revealed novel cell-intrinsic mechanisms that protect the organism against inappropriate immune recognition of self nucleic acids by cytosolic nucleic acid sensors. The type I IFN system is subject to a tight and complex regulation. Disturbances of its checks and balances can spark an unwanted immune response causing uncontrolled type I IFN signaling. Novel mechanistic insight into pathways that control the type I IFN system is providing opportunities for targeted therapeutic approaches by repurposing drugs such as Janus kinase inhibitors or reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Ausführliche Beschreibung