title: The structure of human interferon lambda and what it has taught us.
abstract: Type III interferon (IFN) or IFN-lambda is a novel family of class II cytokines that induces antiviral activities both in vitro and in vivo through its own distinctive receptor complex. The recent crystal structure of human IFN-lambda3 revealed a cytokine with structural similarity to the interleukin-10 family, despite functionally being an IFN. Here, we review the structure of IFN-lambda and its relation to the other members of the class II cytokines. Further, we analyze the structural differences between the tree human isoforms of IFN-lambda and relate this to the observed differences in potency.
authors: Department of Molecular Biology, Centre for Structural Biology, Aarhus University, Arhus, Denmark.
authors: Hans Henrik
authors: HH
authors: Gad
authors: Ole Jensen
authors: OJ
authors: Hamming
authors: Rune
authors: R
authors: Hartmann
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D040681:Structural Homology, Protein; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D007372:Interferons; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007378:Interleukins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda