Description
This study demonstrates quantitative and qualitative differences between type I IFN signatures in autoimmunity and viral infection using purified CD4pos T cells and CD16pos- and CD16neg-monocyte subsets. We were able to discriminate between cell-specific viral response signatures and the pathogenically amplified IFN signatures observed in autoimmunity. The differences were of both a qualitative and quantitative nature, as the signatures in the patients with SLE were characterized by much more complexly compiled gene patterns with increased absolute gene expression levels.