IFN-1 Test for Lupus
Rollover to enlarge image
Individual patients
IFN-1 Test for Lupus
- Measures 4 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) associated with Type 1 Interferon (IFN-1) activity
- Prognostic marker for increased risk of severe Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE)
- Prognostic marker for increased risk of developing Lupus Nephritis
- Available through your rheumatologist
First and only IFN-1 gene signature to support precision care for Lupus
Learn more
Reliable testing supports better insight into your Lupus care
Knowledge is power.
Convenient, at-home sample collection supports better insight into your Lupus care
Knowledge is powerful. IFN-1 test in 5 easy steps.
Precision medicine for autoimmune disease
Precision medicine uses an individual’s genomic information, protein biomarkers, environment, and lifestyle to determine the best course of treatment for their disease.
Unlike precision medicine for cancer which primarily relies on DNA mutation testing to make treatment decisions, autoimmune disease looks at RNA, DNA’s dynamic cousin to determine the best treatment.
Why RNA?
Your DNA never changes. But, RNA levels change continually based on things like your environment, stress, nutrition, and illness. Over or under production of RNA can have serious impacts on normal body function and can lead to the development and progression of disease. Accurate measurement of RNA activity is thus key to better understanding the underlying activity of the autoimmune disease and finding the right treatment.
Precision Medicine Model
Individualized Monitoring and Treatment
RNA Monitoring
Protein Biomarkers |
Therapy Selection
and Care Recommendations |
A therapeutic evolution
Autoimmune diseases have traditionally been treated with broad scale, non-specific immunosuppression by corticosteroids, however new treatments look to specifically target the biological pathways that are responsible for developing the autoimmune disease in the first place. For example, a recently approved drug specifically blocks Type-1 Interferon signaling, and lowers inflammation without the use of steroids. Other therapies target the B-Cell Activating Factor (BAFF) on B-Cells and a frequently prescribed drug in rheumatoid arthritis targets the tumor necrosis factor which is central to blocking inflammation.
Traditional Research: Drug-centric
Precision Medicine Research: Patient-centric
Tests like DxTerity’s IFN-1, provide cost-effective analysis of the key biological pathways to both help identify the best therapy for an individual, and allow for monitoring of the therapeutic response.
IFN-1 and risk management
Type-1 Interferon (IFN-1) is a well-studied biomarker with a strong correlation to SLE disease pathogenesis and severity.8 It is estimated that more than 50% of SLE patients over-express IFN-1.2 Over-expression of IFN-1 has been shown to be more likely to have severe disease2, 12 and less likely to respond to standard treatments lead to an increased risk for disease complications such as development of cutaneous lupus,9 pregnancy complication such as preeclampsia,(10) increased risk of cardiovascular disease development,11 and lupus nephritis.
DxTerity’s IFN-1 Test measures the gene expression activity of IFN-1 from a small blood sample and reports results as High or Normal (Low). Insight into your IFN-1 activity levels may provide information to help guide your healthcare provider in making treatment decisions. Patients with higher IFN-1 levels have been shown to have an increased response to IFN-1 linked therapies.6,12
more than 50% of SLE patients
overexpress IFN-1.
Clinical studies drive precision medicine
Lupus presents in many different ways. Each individual’s lupus journey is unique and influenced by a multitude of factors. The goal is to understand the underlying causes of those differences. The ELEVATE clinical study will examine patient specimens for biomarkers that may be associated with various forms of disease. The knowledge gained may help to identify groups of SLE patients for which targeted treatments may be beneficial.
Type-1 Interferon (IFN-1) activity is central to how your body defends itself against viruses and pathogens, however persistent increased activity has been shown to play a central role in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) disease development and progression.1 The IFN-1 immune pathway is a therapeutic target13,14 for drugs such as recently approved anifrolumab.
- More than 50% of SLE patients overexpress IFN-1, and this overexpression has been linked to increased disease severity.5,6,11
- IFN-1 test has been shown to be a key prognostic marker for SLE patients with IFN-1 high patients having a 3X increased risk of developing lupus nephritis.4
- IFN-1 High SLE patients may be at a greater risk of complications during pregnancy, including the potential for preeclampsia.7
The IFN-1 test measures the relative expression of 4 mRNAs associated with Type-1 Interferon activity. These mRNA results are used to calculate an IFN-1 score, which is evaluated against an established threshold to determine if a patient is Interferon High or Interferon Low.
The DxTerity IFN-1 Test will determine if the blood sample submitted for testing reports High or Low Type-1 Interferon gene expression levels. This information provides a baseline value of IFN-1 activity and, in conjunction with clinical assessment and other laboratory tests, may provide information to help your healthcare provider determine appropriate treatment options to help you now and in the future as more therapeutics become available.
Below are additional helpful resources for you.
Need support?
If you need assistance setting up or accessing your account please
email
For other inquiries, please contact us.