title: Human natural interferon-alpha producing cells.
abstract: Interferons (IFNs) are critical components of the host immune system, serving as antiviral agents, immunomodulators and inhibitors of cell growth. Among peripheral blood mononuclear cells, the primary IFN-alpha-producing cell is a light density, HLA-DR+ cell negative for cell surface markers typical for T cells, B cells, monocytes, natural-killer or progenitor cells and has been tentatively termed the 'natural IFN-producing cell' or NIPC. Although present in very low frequency (approximately 1:1000 among peripheral blood mononuclear cells), the NIPC are very potent, with an individual cell able to produce 1-2 IU of IFN. In this review, the characteristics, phenotype, regulation and relationship of NIPC to human disease are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Medical School, Newark 07103.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald-Bocarsly
mesh_terms: D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha