The Roles of Type I Interferon in Bacterial Infection.
Type I interferons (IFNs) are pleiotropic cytokines well recognized for their role in the induction of a potent antiviral gene program essential for host defense against viruses. They also modulate innate and adaptive immune responses. However, the role of type I IFNs in host defense against bacterial infections is enigmatic. Depending on the bacterium, they exert seemingly opposite and capricious functions. In this review, we summarize the effect of type I IFNs on specific bacterial infections and highlight the effector mechanisms regulated by type I IFNs in an attempt to elucidate new avenues to understanding their role.
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Gayle M
GM
Boxx
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. Electronic address: gcheng@mednet.ucla.edu.
Genhong
G
Cheng
D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D016207:Cytokines; D007370:Interferon Type I; D007371:Interferon-gamma