IMMUNE INTERFERON IN THE CIRCULATION OF PATIENTS WITH AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE

The observation that type II, or immune, interferon could be produced by peripheral-blood leukocytes in vitro on an immune-specific basis suggested that it also might be produced in vivo in various autoimmune disorders. We found immune interferon in the serums of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and Sjögren's syndrome. Among 28 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 71 per cent of those with active and 21 per cent of those with inactive disease showed interferon in their serums. Serial serum samples showed a good correlation between interferon titers and disease activity. Moreover, interferon titers correlated positively with antibodies to DNA and negatively with serum levels of the third component of complement. It is possible that the production of interferon may contribute to immunologic aberrations in autoimmune diseases and also protect the already compromised host from viral infections. (N Engl J Med 301:5–8, 1979) INTERFERON was first recognized as a soluble antiviral glycoprotein induced by viruses.1 Recently, it was shown that there are at least two types of interferon. Type I, or standard, interferon is produced by both nonlymphoid and lymphoid cells in response to viruses, polynucleotides and endotoxin.1 Type II, or immune, interferon is a mediator of cellular immunity, a lymphokine and is produced by sensitized lymphocytes in response to specific antigens or antigen–antibody complexes.2 3 4 In addition to their antiviral activity, it is now recognized that under certain circumstances, both types of interferon can affect antibody production and cell-mediated immunity.5 6 7 The observation in. © 1979, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.