The Infona portal uses cookies, i.e. strings of text saved by a browser on the user's device. The portal can access those files and use them to remember the user's data, such as their chosen settings (screen view, interface language, etc.), or their login data. By using the Infona portal the user accepts automatic saving and using this information for portal operation purposes. More information on the subject can be found in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By closing this window the user confirms that they have read the information on cookie usage, and they accept the privacy policy and the way cookies are used by the portal. You can change the cookie settings in your browser.
Early experiments showed that administration of mouse interferon preparations inhibited the development of viral-induced or spontaneous viral associated leukemias in mice. Interferon α/β was also shown to inhibit the growth of transplantable tumors of different origins in all strains of mice tested. The finding that interferon α/β inhibited the growth of sublines of tumors selected for resistance...
Type I interferons (IFN) and dendritic cells (DC) share an overlapping history, with rapidly accumulating evidence for vital roles for both production of type 1 IFN by DC and the interaction of this IFN both with DC and components of the innate and adaptive immune responses. Within the innate immune response, the plasmacytoid DC (pDC) are the “professional” IFN producing cells, expressing specialized...
In 1956, when we started our collaboration, both Alick Isaacs and myself had done previous work on interference between inactive and active influenza viruses. We were aware of the state interference research had reached and of the two alternative explanations that had been envisaged.
The interferon (IFN) system is a well-controlled network of signaling, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional processes that orchestrate host defense against microbes. The IFN response comprises a multi-array of IFN-stimulated gene products that mediate a variety of biological processes designed to control infection and regulate specific immune responses. In this review, we focus on post-transcriptional...
The IFN-induced double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) is one of the four mammalian serine-threonine kinases (the three others being HRI, GCN2 and PERK) that phosphorylate the eIF2α translation initiation factor, in response to stress signals, mainly as a result of viral infections. eIF2α phosphorylation results in arrest of translation of both cellular and viral mRNAs, an efficient way...
Interferons (IFNs) and their receptors (IFN-Rs) play fundamental roles in a multitude of biological functions. Many articles and reviews emphasize that the JAK/STAT machinery is obligatory for relay of the information transmitted by IFNs after binding to their cognate receptors at the plasma membrane. In contrast, very few studies have addressed the endocytosis and the intracellular trafficking of...
This review is dedicated to the influence of type I IFNs (also called IFN-α/β) in the central nervous system (CNS). Studies in mice with type I IFN receptor or IFN-β gene deficiency have highlighted the importance of the type I IFN system against CNS viral infections and non-viral autoimmune disorders. Direct antiviral effects of type I IFNs appear to be crucial in limiting early spread of a number...
The demonstration by Kerr and colleagues that double-stranded (ds) RNA inhibits drastically protein synthesis in cell-free systems prepared from interferon-treated cells, suggested the existence of an interferon-induced enzyme, which is dependent on dsRNA. Consequently, two distinct dsRNA-dependent enzymes were discovered: a serine/threonine protein kinase that nowadays is referred to as PKR and a...
Interferons-α (IFN-α) are pleiotropic cytokines belonging to type I IFNs, extensively used in the treatment of patients with some types of cancer and viral disease. IFN-α can affect tumor cell functions by multiple mechanisms. In addition, these cytokines can promote the differentiation and activity of host immune cells. Early studies in mouse tumor models showed the importance of host immune mechanisms...
Type I interferons (IFN-α/β) were originally discovered by their strong and direct antiviral activity [A. Isaacs, J. Lindenmann, Virus interference. I. The interferon, Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 147 (1957) 258–267]. (see review by J. Lindenmann on p. 719, in this issue). Nevertheless, only very recently it was entirely realized that viruses would not succeed without efficient tools to undermine...
Interferon-γ is a key cytokine in tumor immunosurveillance. The recently described interferon-producing killer dendritic cell (IKDC), can be distinguished from other innate effectors by its ability to kill a large variety of tumor cells and to produce high amounts of interferon-γ after encountering tumors in the absence of exogenous cytokines. The cytotoxic activity of IKDC was unraveled during an...
The establishment of an antiviral state in cells is the defining activity of interferons (IFNs) as well as the property that permitted their discovery in 1957 by Isaacs and Lindenmann. In addition, interferons have other cellular functions that have potential clinical applications. Today, interferons are used for the treatment of a variety of malignancies and viral diseases. The publication of this...
I describe in this article the early days of interferon research in France. In 1957, when Isaacs and Lindenmann published their results in the same time we worked on a para-influenza 3 virus inhibitor. Thereafter we confirmed this important discovery and initiated research studies about anti-tumor action of interferon.
The interferon (IFN) system is a major effector of the innate immunity that allows time for the subsequent establishment of an adaptive immune response against wide-range pathogens. The effectiveness of IFN to control initial infection requires the cooperation between several pathways induced in the target cells. Recent studies that highlight the implication of the 3′–5′ exonuclease ISG20 (IFN Stimulated...
Dendritic cells (DCs) are central cells of the immune responses. They can be considered as the most influential antigen-presenting cells in the body because of their unique role in initiating immunity against most types of antigens. Recent studies have clearly established that the state of maturation of DC can be crucial for the ability of these antigen-presenting cells to inhibit or induce T-cell-mediated...
Type I interferons (IFN-α/β and related molecules) are essential for protective immunity to experimental infection by numerous viruses in the mouse model. In recent years, human primary immunodeficiencies affecting either the production of (UNC-93B deficiency) or the response to (STAT1 and TYK2 deficiencies) these IFNs have been reported. Affected patients are highly susceptible to certain viruses...
The endoribonuclease L (RNase L) is the effector of the 2-5A system, a major enzymatic pathway involved in the molecular mechanism of interferons (IFNs). RNase L is a very unusual nuclease with a complex mechanism of regulation. It is a latent enzyme, expressed in nearly every mammalian cell type. Its activation requires its binding to a small oligonucleotide, 2-5A. 2-5A is a series of unique 5′-triphosphorylated...
IL-28 and IL-29 were recently described as members of a new cytokine family that shares with type I interferon (IFN) the same Jak/Stat signalling pathway driving expression of a common set of genes. Accordingly, they have been named IFNλ. IFNsλ exhibit several common features with type I IFNs: antiviral activity, antiproliferative activity and in vivo antitumour activity. Importantly, however, IFNsλ...
Since the discovery of interferon 50years ago a great deal of progress has been made in understanding how interferons work and how and why they are induced. Key factors in interferon induction are the interferon regulatory factors (IRF). In this review of IRF we aim to show you not only the historical side of the IRF but also the integral, anti-viral and hematopoetic roles of these transcription factors,...
Set the date range to filter the displayed results. You can set a starting date, ending date or both. You can enter the dates manually or choose them from the calendar.