Background：Anifrolumab is one of three anti-type-1 interferon agents currently under investigation as a potential treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus SLE. Initial in vivo studies observed higher levels of serum interferon IFN in patients with autoimmune disease as opposed to those of healthy controls. Further genetic analyses identified a consistent upregulation of IFN gene signatures in peripheral mononuclear cells of SLE patients. This signature was inducible by IFN, repressed with glucocorticoids, and possibly correlated with disease severity. Therefore, specific IFN gene signatures have been used in clinical trials as diagnostic and pharmacodynamic biomarkers in SLE.
