title: Interferons lambda, new cytokines with antiviral activity.
abstract: Interferons (IFNs) are key cytokines in the establishment of a multifaceted antiviral response. Three distinct types of IFNs are now recognized (type I, type II, and type III) based on their receptor usage, structural features and biological activities. Although all IFNs are important mediators of antiviral protection, their roles in antiviral defence vary. Interferon lambda (IFN-λ) is a recently discovered group of small helical cytokines capable of inducing an antiviral response both in vitro as well as in vivo. They were discovered independently in 2003 by the groups of Sheppard and Kotenko. This family consists of three structurally related IFN-λ subtypes called IFN-λ1 (IL-29), IFN-λ2 (IL-28A), and IFN-λ3 (IL-28B). In this study we investigate the antiviral activities of IFN-λ1, λ2, and λ3 on some medically important viruses, influenza viruses, herpes viruses and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lopušná
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Režuchová
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Betáková
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Skovranová
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tomašková
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lukáčiková
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kabát
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008958:Models, Molecular
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007372:Interferons