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Interferons (IFNs, / ˌ ɪ n t ər ˈ f ɪər ɒ n / IN-tər-FEER-on [1]) are a group of signaling proteins [2] made and released by host cells in response to the presence of several viruses. In a typical scenario, a virus-infected cell will release interferons causing nearby cells to heighten their anti-viral defenses.
The vast majority of these are produced by T-helper cells. Lymphokines: produced by lymphocytes; Monokines: produced exclusively by monocytes; Interferons: involved in antiviral responses; Colony stimulating factors: support the growth of cells in semisolid media; Chemokines: mediate chemoattraction between cells.
The type-I interferons (IFN) are cytokines which play essential roles in inflammation, immunoregulation, tumor cells recognition, and T-cell responses. In the human genome, a cluster of thirteen functional IFN genes is located at the 9p21.3 cytoband over approximately 400 kb including coding genes for IFNα (IFNA1, IFNA2, IFNA4, IFNA5, IFNA6, IFNA7, IFNA8, IFNA10, IFNA13, IFNA14, IFNA16 ...
Upon infection, STING from infected cells can sense the presence of nucleic acids from intracellular pathogens, and then induce interferon β and more than 10 forms of interferon α production. Type I interferon produced by infected cells can find and bind to Interferon-alpha/beta receptor of nearby cells to protect cells from local infection.
Interferon gamma (IFNG or IFN-γ) is a dimerized soluble cytokine that is the only member of the type II class of interferons. [5] The existence of this interferon, which early in its history was known as immune interferon, was described by E. F. Wheelock as a product of human leukocytes stimulated with phytohemagglutinin, and by others as a product of antigen-stimulated lymphocytes. [6]
Once secreted, type I IFNs signal through IFNAR in a paracrine and autocrine manner. [6] IFNAR is a heteromeric cell surface receptor composed of two subunits, referred to as the low affinity subunit, IFNAR1, and the high affinity subunit, IFNAR2.
Type III interferon receptors are expressed more specifically on epithelial cells and some immune cells such as neutrophils, and depending on the species, B cells and dendritic cells as well. [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] Therefore, their antiviral effects are most prominent in barriers, in gastrointestinal, respiratory and reproductive tracts.
Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the IFITM1 gene. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] IFITM1 has also recently been designated CD225 ( cluster of differentiation 225). This protein has several additional names: fragilis (human homolog of the mouse protein), IFI17 [interferon-induced protein 17], 9-27 [Interferon ...