title: Interferon-λs: special immunomodulatory agents and potential therapeutic targets.
abstract: Interferon (IFN)-λs are a new addition to the old IFN family and share many similarities, such as antiviral and antiproliferative characteristics, with type I IFNs. IFN-λs also exhibit unique characteristics in immunomodulation. Accumulating studies have indicated the interactions between IFN-λs and immune cells, which lead to the regulation of the latter. IFN-λs can influence dendritic cells (DCs) and their product, IFN-λs-DCs, can then regulate the function of T cells. On the other hand, IFN-λs can also directly affect T cells through inhibition of the T helper 2 cell (Th2) responses. IFN-λs have varying immunomodulatory functions under different physiological conditions or in different organs and can inhibit tumor growth via regulation of the immune system. Diseases associated with IFN-λs include asthma, allergy, and systemic lupus erythematosus. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the biology of IFN-λs and their immunomodulatory function in relevant human diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Ya-wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jin-pu
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Shizhen Emily
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiu-bao
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda