title: Interferons coordinate a multifaceted defense.
abstract: While interferons help kill virally infected cells, they can also promote systemic immune responses in distant tissues. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Sun et al. (2015) demonstrate that type I interferon induces intestinal epithelial proliferation. This may help maintain a healthy gut and promote recovery from viral gastroenteritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Section of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Kamilla S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Josefsdottir
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Section of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address: kyk@bcm.edu.
authors.forename: Katherine Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I