title: The interferon inducible gene: Viperin.
abstract: The type I interferons (IFNs), IFN-α and -β, are key effector molecules of the immune response to viruses. The anti-viral action of IFNs on virus-infected cells and surrounding tissues is mediated by expression of hundreds of IFN-stimulated genes. Viperin (virus inhibitory protein, endoplasmic reticulum-associated, IFN-inducible) is an Interferon stimulated gene (ISG), which is induced by type I, II, and III IFNs or after infection with a broad range of DNA and RNA viruses. Recent evidence indicates that Viperin disrupts lipid rafts to block influenza virus budding and release and interferes with replication of hepatitis C virus by binding to lipid droplets, small organelles involved in lipid homeostasis that are essential for hepatitis C virus replication. Viperin is also induced by nonviral microbial products such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and by a wide range of bacteria, suggesting a broader role in innate antimicrobial defenses.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA. kate.fitzgerald@umassmed.edu
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007372:Interferons / Q000378:metabolism*; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors; D010802:Phylogeny; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090123:Viperin Protein
chemical_list: D007372:Interferons; D044925:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors; D011506:Proteins; C444427:RSAD2 protein, human; D000090123:Viperin Protein