Role of type I interferon in inducing a protective immune response: perspectives for clinical applications

Type I IFN (IFN-I) are pleiotropic cytokines originally identified for their antiviral activity. However, during almost sixty years of IFN research these cytokines have represented a “moving target” [1], since a variety of other biological effects, different from the antiviral activity, have been progressively described, including antitumor effects [2] and different types of activities on cells of the immune system [3,4]. Notably, IFN-α are the IFN-I subtypes which have shown the longest record of clinical use.

Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - October 30, 2014 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Paola Rizza, Franca Moretti, Imerio Capone, Filippo Belardelli Tags: Mini review Source Type: research