[Gamma interferon: basics aspects, clinic significance and terapeutic uses]

Rev Invest Clin. 2008 Sep-Oct;60(5):421-31.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Interferons are a family of pleiotropic cytokines, their name was assigned because of their anti-replicative viral activity. IFNgamma or immune type II interferon does not share receptors with the type I interferon, its structure is different and its gene is located in different chromosome, although its biologic effects are similar. Along of several years of research, it has been found that IFNgamma enhances the transcription of genes involved in immunomodulation, antiviral responses and antitumoral activities. Regarding to the immune system, IFNgamma increases the cytotoxic and phagocytic activity of macrophages and upregulates the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II molecules in dendritics cells and other antigen presenting cells. IFNgamma also promotes the development and differentiation of naive CD4+ T lymphocytes to Th1 helper subset. Indeed, this cytokine has a key role in the control of bacterial, micotic, viral and parasitic infections. Depending of the micro-environment, IFNgamma has a dual role as pro or anti inflammatory cytokine. Novel therapeutic strategies are currently being developed with the aim to enhance the immune response or replace IFNgamma gene abnormal expression with beneficial results in humans, being recombinant IFNgamma safe and well tolerated.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoimmune Diseases / physiopathology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / therapy
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Granulomatous Disease, Chronic / therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
  • Infections / physiopathology
  • Infections / therapy
  • Inflammation / physiopathology
  • Inflammation / therapy
  • Interferon gamma Receptor
  • Interferon-gamma / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interferon-gamma / chemistry
  • Interferon-gamma / genetics
  • Interferon-gamma / physiology*
  • Interferon-gamma / therapeutic use
  • Janus Kinases / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Protein Conformation
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Interferon / chemistry
  • Receptors, Interferon / physiology
  • STAT Transcription Factors / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Immunologic Factors
  • Receptors, Interferon
  • STAT Transcription Factors
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Janus Kinases