Viral RNA sequences in our genetic information lead to interferon-driven autoimmunity

The innate immune system fights infectious agents, and the alarm messenger interferon plays a central role in this. However, if interferon is produced in the absence of an infection, it can lead to autoimmune diseases. Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the Technical University (TU) Dresden have investigated an underlying mechanism and deciphered the driving force of uncontrolled interferon production through studying the rare autoimmune disease Aicardi-Goutières syndrome. Their study is published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM).