Anti-interferon autoantibodies in autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome type 1.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene influences thymic self-tolerance induction. In autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome type 1 (APS1; OMIM 240300), recessive AIRE mutations lead to autoimmunity targetting endocrine and other epithelial tissues, although chronic candidiasis usually appears first. Autoimmunity and chronic candidiasis can associate with thymomas as well. Patients with these tumours frequently also have high titre immunoglobulin G autoantibodies neutralising type I interferon (IFN)-alpha and IFN-omega, which are secreted signalling proteins of the cytokine superfamily involved in both innate and adaptive immunity.

Methods and findings

We tested for serum autoantibodies to type I IFNs and other immunoregulatory cytokines using specific binding and n

SUBMITTER: Meager A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1475653 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature