Transcriptional Regulation of the Type 1 Interferon Response by a Nuclear Pore Protein.

Abstract

The type I interferon (IFN) response is an integral immune response for host defense against viruses. When a virus enters a cell, cellular pattern recognition receptors bind to viral structures leading to transcription and synthesis of interferons ultimately resulting in viral clearance (5). More than twenty unique IFN genes have been found in humans. They are typically divided among three classes, simply labeled Type I IFN, Type II IFN, and Type III IFN. Interferons belonging to all three classes are important for fighting viral infections and for the regulation of the immune system. Specifically, the type I interferons are produced when cells recognize viral particles within them. Simply put, this response, which results in the production of IFN- β, is akin to an alarm being sounded, alerting the body to viral invasion. The transcriptional induction of IFN- β requires numerous signaling molecules that converge on the activation pathways of various transcription factors, ultimately leading to the antiviral response. Although well studied, many components of the type I interferon response are still being deciphered.