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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 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 ...
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.
Interferons are a type of protein called a cytokine, which is produced in response to infection. [9] When released, they signal to infected cells and other nearby cells that a pathogen is present. [9] This signal is passed from one cell to another by binding of the interferon to a cell surface receptor on a naïve cell. [10]
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.
Human interferon alpha-2 (IFNα2) is a cytokine belonging to the family of type I IFNs. IFNα2 is a protein secreted by cells infected by a virus and acting on other cells to inhibit viral infection. The first description of IFNs as a cellular agent interfering with viral replication was made by Alick Isaacs and Jean Lindenmann in 1957.
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]
Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) is a 17 kDa secreted protein that in humans is encoded by the ISG15 gene. [ 5 ] [ 6 ] ISG15 is induced by type I interferon (IFN) and serves many functions, acting both as an extracellular cytokine and an intracellular protein modifier.