IFN-gamma,alsocalledTypeIIinterferon,isahomodimericgycoproteincontainingapproximately21to24kDsubunits.IncontrasttoIFN-gammaandIFN-gammasynthesis,whichcanoccurinanycell,productionofIFN-gammaisafunctionofTcellsandNKcells.TypeIIIFNorIFN-gammaisalymphokinethatdisplaysnomolecularhomologywithtypeIIFN,butsharessomeimportant
BIOLOGicactivities.Specifically,IFNinducesananti-viralstateandisanti-proliferative.Inaddition,IFN-gammahasseveralpropertiesrelatedtoimmunoregulation.
(1)IFN-isapotentactivatorofmononuclearphagocytes,e.g.IFN-gammastimulatestheexpressionofMac-1,augmentsendocytosisandphagocytosisbymonocytes;andactivatesmacrophagestokilltumorcellsbyreleasingreactiveoxagenintermediatesandTNF-alpha.
(2)IFN-gammainducesoraugmentstheexpressionofMHCantigensonmacrophages,TandBcellsandsometumorcelllines.
(3)OnTandBcellsIFN-promotesdifferentiation.ItenhacesproliferationofactivatedBcellsandcanactsynergisticallywithIL-2toincreaseimmunoglobulinlight-chainsynthesis.IFN-gammaisoneofthenaturalB-celldifferentiationfactors.
(4)Finally,IFN-gammaactivatesneutrophils,NKcellsandvascularendothelialcells.TheroleofIFN-gammaasadisease
Markerhasbeendemonstratedforanumberofdifferentpathologicalsituations.
Synonyms:Immuneinterferon,IFG
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