Interferon-γ in the Treatment of Infectious Diseases

作者：Steven M. Holland, John I. Gallin · 发表于：Humana Press eBooks · 年份：2003 · DOI：10.1007/978-1-59259-309-5_23 · 被引用次数：113 · 研究领域：Cytokine Signaling Pathways and Interactions、interferon and immune responses、Mycobacterium research and diagnosis

The interferons (IFNs) were identified and named for their interference with viral infections of eukaryotic cells (1,2). They were divided into three categories, based on the predominant cells of origin: leukocytes (now known collectively as IFN-α), fibroblasts (now known as IFN-β), and T-cells (immune or IFN-γ). These interferons also had important differences in acid stability, molecular size, and activity. IFN-α and IFN-β, and the similar IFN-ω, share similar biochemical properties, gene proximity, induction, receptor, and signaling pathways and are collectively referred to as type I interferons. In contrast, IFN-γ is quite distinct in many of these features and is referred to as a type II interferon. However, all of the interferons have certain parts of the signaling pathways in common, and they all interfere with viral replication.