Type I Interferons: Distinct Biological Activities and Current Applications for Viral Infection

• Published in: Cellular physiology and biochemistry Vol. 51; no. 5; pp. 2377 - 2396
• Main Authors: Li, Shi-fang, Gong, Mei-jiao, Zhao, Fu-rong, Shao, Jun-jun, Xie, Yin-li, Zhang, Yong-guang, Chang, Hui-yun
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.2018; Karger; Cell Physiol Biochem Press GmbH & Co KG
• Subjects: Amino acids; Antiviral; Antiviral drugs; Bacterial infections; Cytokines; Dendritic cells; Gene expression; Hepatitis; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Immunodeficiency virus; Infections; Influenza; Influenza Virus; Interferon; Life sciences; Microbiologie; Microbiology; Pandemics; Phosphorylation; Proteins; Review; Sciences du vivant; Type I IFN classes; Viral infection; Viral infections; Viruses; Immunodeficiency virus; Influenza Virus; Hepatitis; Antiviral; Type I IFN classes; Viral infection
• ISSN: 1015-8987; 1421-9778; 1421-9778
• DOI: 10.1159/000495897

The interferons (IFNs) are a primary defense against pathogens because of the strong antiviral activities they induce. IFNs can be classified into three groups: type I, type II and type III, according to their genetic, structural, and functional characteristics and their receptors on the cell surface. The type I IFNs are the largest group and include IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-ε, IFN-ω, IFN-κ, IFN-δ, IFN-τ and IFN-ζ. The use of IFNs for the treatment of viral infectious diseases on their antiviral activity may become an important therapeutic option, for example, IFN-α is well known for the successful treatment of hepatitis B and C virus infections, and interest is increasing in the antiviral efficacy of other novel IFN classes and their potential applications. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the recent progress in the study of the biological activities of all the type I IFN classes and their potential applications in the treatment of infections with immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis viruses, and influenza viruses.