Description
Yihong Yao (Editor)Director/Head of Pharmacogenomics, Genetics/Bioinformatics, Translational Science, Boyds, MD, USASeries: Immunology and Immune System DisordersBISAC: MED044000Autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren’s syndrome, psoriasis, scleroderma (SSc) and myositis are heterogeneous disorders that result from interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Type I interferons (IFNs), especially IFN-α/β, have multiple biological functions including anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, immuno-modulation, anti-proliferation, and intensive studies over decades have also revealed important roles in autoimmunity and cancer. Sustained Type I IFN elevation has been implicated in immune responses against self-antigens and tissue damage, which has led to the hypothesis that type I IFN might play a critical role in the pathogenesis of some autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. This book provides an overview of many key topics surrounding type I IFNs, beginning with detailed discussion of the type I IFN signaling pathway, the interplay between components that regulate this pathway, its involvement in autoimmunity, and a detailed review of the roles of type I IFNs in a series of well characterized inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. (Imprint: Nova Biomedical )
