Type I interferon as a link between innate and adaptive immunity through dendritic cell stimulation.
Type I interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) is expressed rapidly after infection and plays a key role in innate defense against pathogens. Recent studies have shown that a connection exists between IFN-alpha/beta and antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DCs) at two levels. Firstly, a specific DC precursor, the plasmacytoid pre-DC (p-preDC), was identified as a cell type able to secrete very high amounts of IFN-alpha/beta following stimulation with infectious agents. Secondly, IFN-alpha/beta has been shown to act as a differentiation/maturation factor for DCs. These findings will be discussed in association with evidence indicating that IFN-alpha/beta can enhance and modulate immune responses in vivo. Taken together, the available data suggest that IFN-alpha/beta serves as a link between the innate response to infection and the adaptive immune response.
Tough
David F
DF
The Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine Research, Compton, Newbury, RG20 7NN, UK. david.tough@jenner.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000166:cytology*
D018925:Chemokines; D007370:Interferon Type I; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D008024:Ligands; D016899:Interferon-beta