Gamma interferon (IFN?), a type II IFN, was discovered approximately seven years after discovery of type I IFNs. IFNs are defined as antiviral proteins, so the initial focus on IFN? was directed toward its antiviral properties. Type I IFNs were shown to regulate antibody production in the early 1970’s, which opened up the vista of immune regulation to IFNs, including IFN?. In fact, IFN? is produced by cells of the immune system following antigen or mitogen signaling. The reviews presented here will focus on the following areas of IFN?:
1. IFN? and signal transduction. The JAK/STAT signaling pathway dominates our view of specific gene activation by IFN?. There are over 60 different cytokines, growth factors, and hormones that use the JAK/STAT pathway, and some use the same STAT transcription factors as IFN?. Thus, IFN? signaling will be addressed in the context of specificity-determining events.
2. IFN? and lymphocytes phenotypes. T helper 1 cells are partially defined by their production of IFN?. IFN? is also produced by natural killer cells. The significance of cellular source of IFN? will be addressed in the context of other lymphocyte phenotypes and autoimmune diseases that are linked to IFN?.
3. Regulation of IFN?. IFN? plays the central role in lethal inflammatory neonatal disease that results from regulatory T cell or suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) deficiency. How Tregs and SOCS1 regulate IFN? function will be addressed.
4. IFN? and host defense against infectious diseases and cancer. There is evidence that IFN? plays an important role in host defense against infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well as viral hepatitis. IFN? is also considered to be important in defense against some forms of cancer. The challenge is how IFN? can be used as a therapeutic in these infectious diseases and cancers.
5. IFN? and the epigentics of gene activation. The usual measurements of DNA methylation/demethylation, histone methylation/demethylation, and histone acetylation involving specific residues such as lysine on histone H3 are seldom defined in the context of the specificity of IFN? signaling. We will attempt to link IFN? signal transduction epigenetics to specific gene activation including the nuclear role of activated JAKs.
Gamma interferon (IFN?), a type II IFN, was discovered approximately seven years after discovery of type I IFNs. IFNs are defined as antiviral proteins, so the initial focus on IFN? was directed toward its antiviral properties. Type I IFNs were shown to regulate antibody production in the early 1970’s, which opened up the vista of immune regulation to IFNs, including IFN?. In fact, IFN? is produced by cells of the immune system following antigen or mitogen signaling. The reviews presented here will focus on the following areas of IFN?:
1. IFN? and signal transduction. The JAK/STAT signaling pathway dominates our view of specific gene activation by IFN?. There are over 60 different cytokines, growth factors, and hormones that use the JAK/STAT pathway, and some use the same STAT transcription factors as IFN?. Thus, IFN? signaling will be addressed in the context of specificity-determining events.
2. IFN? and lymphocytes phenotypes. T helper 1 cells are partially defined by their production of IFN?. IFN? is also produced by natural killer cells. The significance of cellular source of IFN? will be addressed in the context of other lymphocyte phenotypes and autoimmune diseases that are linked to IFN?.
3. Regulation of IFN?. IFN? plays the central role in lethal inflammatory neonatal disease that results from regulatory T cell or suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) deficiency. How Tregs and SOCS1 regulate IFN? function will be addressed.
4. IFN? and host defense against infectious diseases and cancer. There is evidence that IFN? plays an important role in host defense against infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well as viral hepatitis. IFN? is also considered to be important in defense against some forms of cancer. The challenge is how IFN? can be used as a therapeutic in these infectious diseases and cancers.
5. IFN? and the epigentics of gene activation. The usual measurements of DNA methylation/demethylation, histone methylation/demethylation, and histone acetylation involving specific residues such as lysine on histone H3 are seldom defined in the context of the specificity of IFN? signaling. We will attempt to link IFN? signal transduction epigenetics to specific gene activation including the nuclear role of activated JAKs.
