title: Interferon-λ: Immune Functions at Barrier Surfaces and Beyond.
abstract: When type III interferon (IFN-λ; also known as interleukin-28 [IL-28] and IL-29) was discovered in 2003, its antiviral function was expected to be analogous to that of type I IFNs (IFN-α and IFN-β) via the induction of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). Although IFN-λ stimulates expression of antiviral ISGs preferentially in cells of epithelial origin, recent studies have defined additional antiviral mechanisms in other cell types and tissues. Viral infection models using mice lacking IFN-λ signaling and SNP associations with human disease have expanded our understanding of the contribution of IFN-λ to the antiviral response at anatomic barriers and the immune response beyond these barriers. In this review, we highlight recent insights into IFN-λ functions, including its ability to restrict virus spread into the brain and to clear chronic viral infections in the gastrointestinal tract. We also discuss how IFN-λ modulates innate and adaptive immunity, autoimmunity, and tumor progression and its possible therapeutic applications in human disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Helen M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lazear
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Nice
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. Electronic address: diamond@borcim.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Diamond
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007371:Interferon-gamma