title: Interferon-tau: current applications and potential in antiviral therapy.
abstract: Interferon-tau (IFN-tau) was initially identified as an ovine pregnancy protein. Produced by the trophoblast, it is important in preventing degradation of the corpus luteum and has been used as an early marker for ovine pregnancy. As a member of the family of type I interferons, IFN-tau has demonstrated promising antiviral activity against human viral infections in vitro. Additionally, it displays high species cross-reactivity despite its absence in humans. To date, IFN-tau has shown efficacy in reducing replication of human immunodeficiency virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, and human papillomavirus. While IFN-tau shares similar antiviral activity to IFN-alpha, the current interferon of choice for treatment of viral infections, it lacks the associated toxicity. This may make IFN-tau an attractive alternative to IFN-alpha for the treatment of viral infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA. Thomas.Chon@Gmail.com
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chon
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bixler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002415:Cats; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016089:Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012756:Sheep; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C020947:interferon tau