IFN-alpha and IFN-beta: a link between immune memory and chronic inflammation.
The majority of expanded T cells generated during an immune response are cleared by apoptosis. Prevention of death in some activated T cells enables the persistence of a memory T-cell pool. Here, observations that IFN-alpha and IFN-beta inhibit activated T-cell apoptosis are described. Although this enables memory T cells to persist without antigen, excessive IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma secretion might lead to chronic inflammation.
Akbar
A N
AN
Department of Clinical Immunology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Hampstead, London, UK. akbar@rfhsm.ac.uk
Lord
J M
JM
Salmon
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000276:immunology*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000276:immunology*
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016899:Interferon-beta