The unique role of STAT2 in constitutive and IFN-induced transcription and antiviral responses
Interferons (IFNs) are a subset of cytokines that have profound effects on many aspects of cell physiology. IFNs regulate cell proliferation, apoptosis and inflammation but also take part in the first line of defense against viral infections. IFNs represent a family of molecules which can be divided into three main subfamilies: Type I, Type II and Type III. Type I (IFN-I) consist of IFN β, IFNκ, IFNω, IFNε and 13 subtypes of IFNα, type II (IFN-II) consists of the single IFNγ while type III (IFN-III) comprises IFNλ1, IFNλ2, IFNλ3 [1,2] and recently discovered IFNλ4 [3]. (Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews)
Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - March 16, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Katarzyna Blaszczyk, Hanna Nowicka, Kaja Kostyrko, Aleksandra Antonczyk, Joanna Wesoly, Hans A.R. Bluyssen Tags: Mini review Source Type: research
What can pestiviral endonucleases teach us about innate immunotolerance?
Viruses are never able to propagate and survive on their own, i.e., they are totally dependent on a host that they can infect. Consequentially, the field of virology is intimately linked to immunology as, during the long time of co-evolution, the hosts have acquired a vast array of antiviral defense mechanisms and vice versa. (Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews)
Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - March 16, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Carmela Lussi, Matthias Schweizer Tags: Mini review Source Type: research
Monocyte and interferon based therapy for the treatment of ovarian cancer
Cytokines and cells of the innate immune system have been shown to be critical regulators in the elimination, equilibrium and escape of malignant cells. Despite in vitro and in vivo evidence, components of the innate immune system have shown limited efficacy in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Intraperitoneal immunotherapies are a promising field that has not yet been fully explored in ovarian cancer. Cytokine immunotherapy using interferon alpha (IFN-α) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) has predominantly been used intraperitoneally in ovarian cancer, with promising results. (Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews)
Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - March 15, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Daniel S. Green, Ana T. Nunes, Christina M. Annunziata, Kathryn C. Zoon Tags: Mini review Source Type: research
Monocyte and interferon based therapy for the treatment of ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is the number one cause of death due to gynecological malignancies, and the fifth leading cause of death due to cancer in women. Patients present late in the course of disease (Stage 3 or 4) as a result of little to no early symptoms and no current non-invasive testing [1]. While surgical debulking and intravenous chemotherapy with intraperitoneal chemotherapy result in an initial remission in disease, approximately 75% of patients will relapse. The relapse is characterized by chemotherapy refractory disease that ultimately becomes chemotherapy resistant. (Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews)
Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - March 14, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Daniel S. Green, Ana T. Nunes, Christina M. Annunziata, Kathryn C. Zoon Tags: Mini review Source Type: research
Brain heterogeneity leads to differential innate immune responses and modulates pathogenesis of viral infections
A functional central nervous system (CNS) is essential to ensure survival of the individual. Infection reduces this functionality by induction of apoptotic or inflammatory processes that lead to a loss of cognitive and motoric skills [1,2]. Therefore it is crucial that the CNS is protected from most viral infections by effective immune responses and multilayer barriers like the blood brain barrier (BBB) [3,4]. Upon pathogen entry, type I interferons (IFNs) are readily upregulated as a first line of defense [5,6]. (Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews)
Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - March 11, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Loreen Zegenhagen, Chaitanya Kurhade, Nikolaus Koniszewski, Anna K. Överby, Andrea Kröger Tags: Mini review Source Type: research
Novel interferonopathies associated with mutations in RIG-I like receptors
Type I Interferons (IFN) belong to the cytokine family with antiviral function and are involved in regulatory effects on the immune response [1,2]. Secreted Type I IFN proteins are synthesised by almost all cell types and mediate immune response by binding to the type I interferon receptor composed of the two chains: IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 [3]. Studies in rats in the early 80’s of the last century suggested that elevated interferon levels are detrimental for the mammalian organism [4]. In 1988, Pierre Lebon and colleagues detected high levels of interferon in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with Aicardi-Goutières...
Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - March 11, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Insa Buers, Yvonne Nitschke, Frank Rutsch Tags: Survey Source Type: research
Brain heterogeneity leads to differential innate immune responses and modulates pathogenesis of viral infections
A functional central nervous system (CNS) is essential to ensure survival of the individual. Infection reduces this functionality by induction of apoptotic or inflammatory processes that lead to a loss of cognitive and motoric skills [1,2]. Therefore it is crucial that the CNS is protected from most viral infections by effective immune responses and multilayer barriers like the blood brain barrier (BBB) [3,4]. Upon pathogen entry, type I interferons (IFNs) are readily upregulated as a first line of defense [5,6]. (Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews)
Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - March 10, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Loreen Zegenhagen, Chaitanya Kurhade, Nikolaus Koniszewski, Anna K. Överby, Andrea Kröger Tags: Mini review Source Type: research
Novel interferonopathies associated with mutations in RIG-I like receptors
Type I interferons (IFN) belong to the cytokine family with antiviral function and are involved in regulatory effects on the immune response [1,2]. Secreted type I IFN proteins are synthesised by almost all cell types and mediate immune response by binding to the type I IFN receptor composed of the two chains: IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 [3]. Studies in rats in the early 80 ’s of the last century suggested that elevated IFN levels are detrimental for the mammalian organism [4]. In 1988, Pierre Lebon and colleagues detected high levels of IFN in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS), a r...
Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - March 10, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Insa Buers, Yvonne Nitschke, Frank Rutsch Tags: Survey Source Type: research
RNase L and the NLRP3-Inflammasome: An old merchant in a new trade
Approximately 40 years ago, a novel observation from Ian Kerr’s laboratory at the National Institute for Medical Research in the United Kingdom led to the discovery of the absolute requirement of ATP for the inhibition of protein synthesis by double-stranded (ds) RNAs in extracts of interferon (IFN)-stimulated cells [1]. Subsequently, two distinct pathways were established that could sense dsRNA viral intermediates and inhibit protein synthesis either directly or indirectly: (i) protein kinase R (PKR) pathway: a type I IFN-regulated protein kinase, activated by dsRNA that phosphorylates eukaryotic translation initiation ...
Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - March 10, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Shuvojit Banerjee Tags: Mini review Source Type: research
RNase L and the NLRP3-inflammasome: An old merchant in a new trade
Approximately 40 years ago, a novel observation from Ian Kerr ’s laboratory at the National Institute for Medical Research in the United Kingdom led to the discovery of the absolute requirement of ATP for the inhibition of protein synthesis by double-stranded (ds) RNAs in extracts of interferon (IFN)-stimulated cells [1]. Subsequently, two distinct pathways were established that could sense dsRNA viral intermediates and inhibit protein synthesis either directly or indirectly: (i) protein kinase R (PKR) pathway: a type I IFN-regulated protein kinase, activated by dsRNA that phosphorylates eukaryotic translation initiation...
Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - March 9, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Shuvojit Banerjee Tags: Mini review Source Type: research
The light and the dark sides of Interleukin-10 in immune-mediated diseases and cancer.
IL-10 is generally considered a tolerogenic and anti-inflammatory cytokine, because it blocks the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the capacity of myeloid cells to efficiently activate T-cells [1,2]. Indeed, the production of IL-10 by T-cells is considered a hallmark of a subset of regulatory T-cells that inhibit or dampen immune responses [3,4]. However, as is the case for many other cytokines, the action of IL-10 is more complex and can have both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on different types of immune responses [5], depending on the cellular source of IL-10, the timing of its secretion and the type of...
Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - March 7, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Jens Geginat, Paola Larghi, Moira Paroni, Giulia Nizzoli, Alessandra Penatti, Massimiliano Pagani, Nicola Gagliani, Pierluigi Meroni, Sergio Abrignani, Richard Flavell Tags: Mini review Source Type: research
The transcription factor BATF modulates cytokine-mediated responses in T cells
The family of basic leucine zipper transcription factors, ATF-like (BATF) comprises three members (BATF, BATF2 and BATF3) and belongs to the group of AP-1 transcription factors. These factors are homo- or heterodimers composed of Jun, Fos or ATF/CREB proteins. They possess a DNA-binding domain (DBD) and a leucine zipper motif (bZIP), interestingly, all BATF isoforms lack the transactivation domain other AP-1 factors, such as Jun or Fos, have [1,2]. (Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews)
Source: Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews - March 6, 2016 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Nina Sopel, Anna Graser, Stephanie Mousset, Susetta Finotto Tags: Mini review Source Type: research
