IL-28 and IL-29: newcomers to the interferon family.
IL-28 and IL-29 were recently described as members of a new cytokine family that shares with type I interferon (IFN) the same Jak/Stat signalling pathway driving expression of a common set of genes. Accordingly, they have been named IFN lambda. IFNs lambda exhibit several common features with type I IFNs: antiviral activity, antiproliferative activity and in vivo antitumour activity. Importantly, however, IFNs lambda bind to a distinct membrane receptor, composed of IFNLR1 and IL10R2. This specific receptor usage suggests that this cytokine family does not merely replicate the type I IFN system and justifies its designation as type III IFN by the nomenclature committee of the International Society of Interferon and Cytokine Research.
Uzé
Gilles
G
CNRS UMR 5124, University Montpellier II, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. uze@univ-montp2.fr
Monneron
Danièle
D
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007372:Interferons / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D053701:Receptors, Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; D053701:Receptors, Interleukin-10; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda