Tumor necrosis factor and interferon: cytokines in harmony.
Individually, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and the various interferons frequently display strong antiviral activities. Certain combinations of these cytokines, however, induce a synergistic antiviral state which is distinct from that induced by either one alone. This novel synergistic antiviral state likely occurs through several possible mechanisms, involves multiple signaling pathways, and inhibits a wider range of viruses than the individual cytokines alone. While underappreciated when first discovered, this synergistic phenomenon is proving to be of a much broader scope than initially thought. More work is needed to refine our understanding of this observation and its physiological implications for anti-pathogen responses.
Bartee
Eric
E
Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Mohamed
Mohamed R
MR
McFadden
Grant
G
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000276:immunology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007372:Interferons