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. 2001;3(3):136-41.
doi: 10.1186/ar290. Epub 2001 Feb 14.

The role of IFN-gamma in systemic lupus erythematosus: a challenge to the Th1/Th2 paradigm in autoimmunity

A N Theofilopoulos  1 , S Koundouris, D H Kono, B R Lawson
Affiliations

The role of IFN-gamma in systemic lupus erythematosus: a challenge to the Th1/Th2 paradigm in autoimmunity

A N Theofilopoulos et al. Arthritis Res. 2001.

Abstract

The classification of T helper cells into type 1 (Th1) and type 2 (Th2) led to the hypothesis that Th1 cells and their cytokines (interleukin [IL]-2, interferon [IFN]-gamma) are involved in cell-mediated autoimmune diseases, and that Th2 cells and their cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13) are involved in autoantibody(humoral)-mediated autoimmune diseases. However, this paradigm has been refuted by recent studies in several induced and spontaneous mouse models of systemic lupus erythematosus, which showed that IFN-gamma is a major effector molecule in this disease. These and additional findings, reviewed here, suggest that these two cross-talking classes of cytokines can exert autoimmune disease-promoting or disease-inhibiting effects without predictability or strict adherence to the Th1-versus-Th2 dualism.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of Th1/Th2 differentiation. Modes of induction, important transcription factors and acquisition or markers are depicted (for details, see text).
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