Emerging therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus - Focus on targeting interferon-alpha

Current therapies for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a debilitating, potentially lethal, multifactorial systemic autoimmune disease, are limited to suppressing disease activity and are associated with multiple adverse effects. Recent advances in basic and translational sciences have elucidated a crucial role for the interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) pathway in the pathogenesis of this enigmatic disease. The so-called "type I interferon signature" has emerged as a major risk factor for disease activity of SLE. Multiple genes encoding for molecules within the type I interferon pathway have been associated with SLE in genome wide association studies. In addition, innate immune receptors are thought to be triggered by either endogenous and/or exogenous stimuli that lead to hypersecretion of IFN alpha. We review the multiple emerging treatment strategies targeting IFN alpha-related pathways. These include monoclonal antibodies against IFN alpha, anti-IFN alpha antibody-inducing vaccines, and inhibitors of Toll-like receptors. We also summarize the current status of these pharmaceutical agents in early clinical trials. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.