Rethinking definitions of autoimmune disease

The autoimmune field is dialing up its search for better biomarkers as it seeks to make the next step change from the targeted therapies that overtook blanket immunosuppressants. The question is whether autoimmunity might follow the lead of oncology and classify indications by molecular drivers rather than the symptoms or tissues involved.

While TNF-α inhibitors and other therapies targeting specific immune pathways have provided better outcomes for many patients than generalized immunosuppressants such as steroids, there is still no good way to match therapies to patients or disease stage...