title: Interferons (IFNs) are key cytokines in both innate and adaptive antiviral immune responses--and viruses counteract IFN action.
abstract: Interferons (IFNs) are transcriptionally regulated cytokines and key players in the innate antiviral immune response. Upon recognition of a virus, or its molecular patterns, by the Toll-like receptors of dendritic cells (DCs), high levels of IFNs are expressed by these cells. This in turn stimulates DC maturation and the subsequent expression of proinflammatory cytokines and costimulatory molecules, leading to the transition to an adaptive antiviral immunity. Conversely, viruses have developed diverse strategies to counterattack host defenses in order to generate their progenies.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Transdução de Sinal, Laboratório de Vírus, Depto Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627-Campus Pampulha, 31310-390 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. claubonj@mono.icb.ufmg.br
authors.forename: Claudio A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bonjardim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007372:Interferons / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000276:immunology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D018406:Virus Physiological Phenomena
chemical_list: D007372:Interferons