Autoantibodies to cytokines occur in many different conditions
and situations and can cause a wide range of disease, including
pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, disseminated non-tuberculous
mycobacterial disease, pure red-cell aplasia, and chronic
mucocutaneous candidiasis. Anticytokine autoantibodies may also
develop against exogenously administered cytokines, sometimes
diminishing their effects or inhibiting the activity of the
endogenous cytokine. Unlike primary congenital
immunodeficiencies, autoantibodies may develop over time, wax
and wane, and may change in titre or avidity. Naturally
occurring autoantibodies to interferons α, β, and γ,
interleukins 1α, 2, 6, and 10, tumour necrosis factor, and
granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor have been
reported in healthy individuals and have been identified in
rheumatological diseases, graft-versus-host disease, and cancer.
Therapeutic antibodies, growth factors, other biological agents,
and cytokines used to treat acute, chronic, malignant, and
immune