Submit a comment

Treatment of murine lupus with cDNA encoding IFN-γR/Fc
Brian R. Lawson, Gerald J. Prud’homme, Yigang Chang, Humphrey A. Gardner, Jason Kuan, Dwight H. Kono, Argyrios N. Theofilopoulos
Brian R. Lawson, Gerald J. Prud’homme, Yigang Chang, Humphrey A. Gardner, Jason Kuan, Dwight H. Kono, Argyrios N. Theofilopoulos
View: Text | PDF
Article

Treatment of murine lupus with cDNA encoding IFN-γR/Fc

Abstract

IFN-γ, a pleiotropic cytokine, is a key effector molecule in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases, including lupus. Importantly, deletion of IFN-γ or IFN-γR in several lupus-predisposed mouse strains resulted in significant disease reduction, suggesting the potential for therapeutic intervention. We evaluated whether intramuscular injections of plasmids with cDNA encoding IFN-γR/Fc can retard lupus development and progression in MRL-Faslpr mice. Therapy significantly reduced serum levels of IFN-γ, as well as disease manifestations (autoantibodies, lymphoid hyperplasia, glomerulonephritis, mortality), when treatment was initiated at the predisease stage, particularly when IFN-γR/Fc expression was enhanced by electroporation at the injection site. Remarkably, disease was arrested and even ameliorated when this treatment was initiated at an advanced stage. This therapy represents a rare example of disease reversal and makes application of this nonviral gene therapy in humans with lupus (and perhaps other autoimmune/inflammatory conditions) highly promising.

Authors

Brian R. Lawson, Gerald J. Prud’homme, Yigang Chang, Humphrey A. Gardner, Jason Kuan, Dwight H. Kono, Argyrios N. Theofilopoulos

×

Guidelines

The Editorial Board will only consider comments that are deemed relevant and of interest to readers. The Journal will not post data that have not been subjected to peer review; or a comment that is essentially a reiteration of another comment.

  • Comments appear on the Journal’s website and are linked from the original article’s web page.
  • Authors are notified by email if their comments are posted.
  • The Journal reserves the right to edit comments for length and clarity.
  • No appeals will be considered.
  • Comments are not indexed in PubMed.

Specific requirements

  • Maximum length, 400 words
  • Entered as plain text or HTML
  • Author’s name and email address, to be posted with the comment
  • Declaration of all potential conflicts of interest (even if these are not ultimately posted); see the Journal’s conflict-of-interest policy
  • Comments may not include figures
This field is required
This field is required
This field is required
This field is required
This field is required
This field is required