title: Are all type I human interferons equivalent?
abstract: The Type I interferons are a family of closely related cytokines that have antiviral and immunostimulatory properties. There has been prolonged debate regarding the different interferon-alpha subtypes: with some authorities suggest that the different interferons have essentially similar properties but others argue that there are significant differences between them. Recent work has shown that the various interferon-alpha subtypes can interact with the interferon receptor components in different ways and can activate a number of different signalling pathways. Recent studies on the immunomodulatory properties of the Type I interferons indicate that there are profound differences between the subtypes. The clinical significance of all these differences remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College School of Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Finter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000276:immunology*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000276:immunology*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007370:Interferon Type I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; C063743:interferon omega 1; D016899:Interferon-beta