GILZ represents a novel checkpoint in the interferon program in SLE

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) or lupus is a multi-system autoimmune disease that predominantly affects younger women. The treatment of lupus has scarcely changed over the last seven decades—glucocorticoids or steroids remain the most prescribed treatment in lupus. As a ‘double-edged sword’, the use of these drugs is accompanied by a litany of adverse effects that contribute to morbidity and mortality in these patients. Thus, there is a dire need for a drug that mimics the anti-inflammatory effects of steroids but without the negative metabolic effects. GILZ may represent such an alternative, potentially leading to improved outcomes for lupus patients.