Type III IFNs: new layers of complexity in innate antiviral immunity.
Cytokines are small secreted molecules, which mediate cross-talk between cells involved in the immune response. Interferons (IFN)s, constitute a class of cytokines with antiviral activities, and the type I IFNs have been ascribed particularly important roles in the innate antiviral response. Type III IFNs (also known as IFN-lambda or interleukin 28/29) represent a class of novel cytokines with biological activities similar to the type I IFNs, but seem to have a more specialized role in antiviral defense by exerting host-protection primarily at epithelial surfaces. In this review, we describe the current knowledge on the role of type III IFNs in antiviral defense.
Ank
Nina
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Institute of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Aarhus, Denmark.
Paludan
Søren R
SR