title: Regulation of effector and memory T-cell functions by type I interferon.
abstract: Type I interferon (IFN-α/β) is comprised of a family of highly related molecules that exert potent antiviral activity by interfering with virus replication and spread. IFN-α/β secretion is tightly regulated through pathogen sensing pathways that are operative in most somatic cells. However, specialized antigen-presenting plasmacytoid dendritic cells are uniquely equipped with the capacity to secrete extremely high levels of IFN-α/β, suggesting a key role for this cytokine in priming adaptive T-cell responses. Recent studies in both mice and humans have demonstrated a role for IFN-α/β in directly influencing the fate of both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells during the initial phases of antigen recognition. As such, IFN-α/β, among other innate cytokines, is considered an important 'third signal' that shapes the effector and memory T-cell pool. Moreover, IFN-α/β also serves as a counter-regulator of T helper type 2 and type 17 responses, which may be important in the treatment of atopy and autoimmunity, and in the development of novel vaccine adjuvants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9093, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Farrar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018448:Models, Immunological; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016899:Interferon-beta