Heterogeneity of SLE
Risk of organ damage
Disease Outcomes
Immune Dysregulation
Role of Cytokines
Significance of IFN-1
View AstraZeneca’s Commitment to SLE
Connect With a Medical Science Liaison
Expert On-Demand
This website is intended to help healthcare professionals practicing in Egypt find and access scientifically balanced, evidence-based, and peer-led information and professional resources in support of the early diagnosis and timely referral of patients with lupus. The dissemination of this information may be subject to different medical and regulatory requirements in other countries.
Cytokines are important mediators of intercellular communication that orchestrate the interaction of immune cells during immune responses. In SLE, several cytokines are involved in general immune dysregulation and also in local inflammation that leads to tissue injury and organ damage.
Inflammatory cytokines, like type I and type II interferons and interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1, and (TNF-α.) as well as immunomodulatory cytokines like IL-10 and TGF-β., have been identified as important players in SLE.2
Apart from those IL-21 and IL-17 have been lately identified to play a relevant role in autoimmunity, while recent findings regarding IL-2 brought this cytokine back in focus of SLE research.2
Type I IFNs are central to the activation of the innate immune sys- immune system in many patients1
Interaction of type I IFNs with their receptors induces signaling through the Janus kinase (JAK)–signal transducer activator of transcription (STAT) pathway and transcription of hundreds of IFN-responsive genes — the ‘interferon signature’ — encoding proteins that are involved in immune function regulation.1
BAFF, B-cell–activating factor; GC, glucocorticoid; IFN-1, type 1 interferon; IL-6, interleukin 6; IL-12, interleukin 12; IL-23, interleukin 23; mDC, myeloid dendritic cell; NK, natural killer; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor alpha.
TLRs: Toll‑like receptors; PDCs: plasmacytoid dendritic cells; NETs: neutrophil extracellular traps; MHC: major histocompatibility complex; TCR: T cell receptor; DC: dendritic cells.
IFN-1, type 1 interferon; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus.
References:
1. Kaul A, Gordon C, Crow MK, et al. Systemic lupus erythematosus. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016;2:16039.
2. Ohl, K. and Tenbrock, K. (2011) ‘Inflammatory cytokines in systemic lupus erythematosus’, Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2011, pp.1–14.doi:10.1155/2011/432595.
The information on this website is provided by AstraZeneca for educational purposes only and is intended for non-UK and non-US Healthcare Professionals only. It should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. This information is intended for Healthcare Professionals only.
EDA Notification No : WF0022OA6344/052026
Invalidation Date : 25/08/2026
Promomat Code : EG-9767
Promomat Expiration Date : 5/21/2027
