# What goes up must come down: dynamics of type 1 interferon signaling across the lifespan

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how type 1 interferon signaling changes with age, affecting immunity and disease susceptibility.

## Contribution

The paper emphasizes the need for age-specific therapeutic strategies based on interferon signaling dynamics.

## Key findings

- Aging is linked to reduced T1IFN responsiveness due to chronic STING pathway activation.
- Neonates and young children show vulnerability to viral infections, though the role of T1IFN is unclear.
- Current immunotherapies lack representation of pediatric and elderly populations in clinical trials.

## Abstract

Type 1 interferons (T1IFNs) are typically expressed in low concentrations under homeostatic conditions, but upon pathogenic insult or perturbation of the pathway, these critical immune signaling molecules can become either protectors from or drivers of pathology. While essential for initiating antiviral defense and modulating inflammation, dysregulation of T1IFN signaling can contribute to immunopathology, making it and its associated pathways prime targets for immune evasion and disruption by pathogens. This review focuses on the changes in T1IFN signaling across the lifespan, with particular emphasis on the role of the Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) pathway in autoimmune and infectious disease susceptibility, especially in the context of viral infections. Aging is associated with diminished T1IFN responsiveness, partially resulting from chronic stimulation of the STING pathway, which contributes to increased susceptibility and impaired viral clearance. Conversely, neonates and young children also show increased vulnerability to certain viral infections, but whether this is driven by T1IFN differences or another mechanism remains incompletely understood. Despite growing interest in T1IFN-based immunotherapies, pediatric and elderly populations remain underrepresented in clinical trials. Here, we advocate for a deeper molecular and systems understanding of how the interferon response evolves across the human lifespan, to inform age-tailored therapeutic approaches and more inclusive study designs, thereby improving outcomes in both the youngest and oldest patients.