interferon
Sign in to saveInterferons (IFNs, ) are a group of signaling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of several viruses. In a typical scenario, a virus-infected cell will release interferons causing nearby cells to heighten their anti-viral defenses.
AI overview
Interferons are proteins that your body's cells produce and release when they detect a virus, acting as a chemical alarm system. Once released, these proteins warn nearby cells to boost their defenses against the virus, helping your body fight off the infection.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Protein family.Symbol
- IL28A
- Protein family.Name
- Interferon type III (λ)
- Protein family.image
- Image:1HIG Interferon-Gamma01.png
- Protein family.caption
- The three-dimensional structure of human interferon gamma ()
- Protein family.Pfam
- PF15177
- Protein family.InterPro
- IPR029177
- Protein family.SMART
- SM00076
- Protein family.Prosite
- PDOC00225
- Protein family.SCOP
- d1d9ca_
- Protein family.CATH
- 3og6A00
- Protein family.CDD
- cd00095
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
15 sectionsContents
- Types of interferon
- Function
- Induction of interferons
- Downstream signaling
- Viral resistance to interferons
- Coronavirus response
- Interferon therapy
- Diseases
- Drug formulations
- History
- Human interferons
- Teleost fish interferons
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Interferons (IFNs, ) are a group of signaling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of several viruses. In a typical scenario, a virus-infected cell will release interferons causing nearby cells to heighten their anti-viral defenses.
IFNs belong to the large class of proteins known as cytokines, molecules used for communication between cells to trigger the protective defenses of the immune system that help eradicate pathogens. Interferons are named for their ability to "interfere" with viral replication by protecting cells from virus infections. However, virus-encoded genetic elements have the ability to antagonize the IFN response, contributing to viral pathogenesis and viral diseases. IFNs also have various other functions: they activate immune cells, such as natural killer cells and macrophages, and they increase host defenses by up-regulating antigen presentation by virtue of increasing the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens. Certain symptoms of infections, such as fever, muscle pain and "flu-like symptoms", are also caused by the production of IFNs and other cytokines.