title: Interferon-alpha in inflammation and immunity.
abstract: Type I interferons, constituting IFN-alpha and IFN-beta, were initially described for their ability to interfere with viral replication. IFN-alpha was the first cytokine to be cloned and used successfully as a therapeutic cytokine, although its mechanism of action remained largely elusive. Evidence gathered over the last few years shed light on the molecular effects of IFN-alpha, especially its interaction with the cytokine cascade. Recently, the principle source of IFN-alpha could be identified as the precursor of type 2 dendritic cells, and IFN-alpha has been identified as the cytokine linking innate with adaptive immunity via its interaction with dendritic cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospital Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaser
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tilg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000502:physiology; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007370:Interferon Type I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins