Interferon type III

The type III interferon group consists of four IFN-λ (lambda) molecules called IFN-λ1, IFN-λ2, IFN-λ3 (also known as IL29, IL28A and IL28B respectively), and IFN-λ4.[1] These interferons signal through a receptor complex consisting of IL10RB (also called IL10R2 or CRF2-4) and IFNLR1 (formerly called IL28RA , CRF2-12).[2] The interferon lambda genes lie in the 19q13.13 chromosomal region. IFNL4 is located between IFNL3 and IFNL2.[3]

Type III interferon (interferon lambda) genes on chromosome 19
Interferon type III (λ)
Identifiers
SymbolIL28A
PfamPF15177
InterProIPR029177
CATH3og6A00

Interferon lambda proteins are involved in immune response to viral infection. Signaling initiated by IFN-λ triggers the JAK-STAT pathway, leading to the expression of numerous interferon-stimulated genes with anti-viral and anti-proliferative effects.

All four interferon lambda proteins have antiviral effects in vitro, however, a genetic variant that produces the IFNL4 protein is linked to impaired clearance of hepatitis C virus.[3] The explanation for this paradox is not fully understood.

In contrast to the ubiquitous expression of receptors for IFN-α, IFNLR1 is largely restricted to tissues of epithelial origin.[4][5] Therefore, interferon lambda proteins may have evolved specifically to protect tissue barriers.

References
  1. Vilcek J (January 2003). "Novel interferons". Nature Immunology. 4 (1): 8–9. doi:10.1038/ni0103-8. PMID 12496969.
  2. Bartlett NW, Buttigieg K, Kotenko SV, Smith GL (June 2005). "Murine interferon lambdas (type III interferons) exhibit potent antiviral activity in vivo in a poxvirus infection model". The Journal of General Virology. 86 (Pt 6): 1589–96. doi:10.1099/vir.0.80904-0. PMID 15914836.
  3. Prokunina-Olsson L, Muchmore B, Tang W, Pfeiffer RM, Park H, Dickensheets H, et al. (February 2013). "A variant upstream of IFNL3 (IL28B) creating a new interferon gene IFNL4 is associated with impaired clearance of hepatitis C virus". Nature Genetics. 45 (2): 164–71. doi:10.1038/ng.2521. PMC 3793390. PMID 23291588.
  4. Kotenko SV, Gallagher G, Baurin VV, Lewis-Antes A, Shen M, Shah NK, et al. (January 2003). "IFN-lambdas mediate antiviral protection through a distinct class II cytokine receptor complex". Nature Immunology. 4 (1): 69–77. doi:10.1038/ni875. PMID 12483210.
  5. Sheppard P, Kindsvogel W, Xu W, Henderson K, Schlutsmeyer S, Whitmore TE, et al. (January 2003). "IL-28, IL-29 and their class II cytokine receptor IL-28R". Nature Immunology. 4 (1): 63–8. doi:10.1038/ni873. PMID 12469119.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.