Regulation of the type I IFN induction: a current view.
The type I IFN-alpha/beta gene family was identified about a quarter of a century ago as a prototype of many cytokine gene families, which led to the subsequent burst of studies on molecular mechanisms underlying cytokine gene expression and signaling. Although originally discovered for their activity to confer an antiviral state on cells, more evidence has recently been emerging regarding IFN-alpha/beta actions on cell growth, differentiation and many immunoregulatory activities, which are of even greater fundamental biological significance. Indeed, much attention has recently been focused on the induction and function of the IFN-alpha/beta system regulated by Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which are critical for linking the innate and adaptive immunities. The understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of IFN-alpha/beta gene induction by TLRs and viruses is an emerging theme, for which much new insight has been gained over the past few years.
Honda
Kenya
K
Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
Yanai
Hideyuki
H
Takaoka
Akinori
A
Taniguchi
Tadatsugu
T
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000502:physiology*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
D016207:Cytokines; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D016899:Interferon-beta