Please answer
Immune system acts by producing special proteins called_______.
Answers
Immune system acts by producing special proteins called interferon
When type III interferon (IFN-l; also known as interleukin-28 [IL-28] and IL-29) was discovered in 2003, its
antiviral function was expected to be analogous to that of type I IFNs (IFN-a and IFN-b) via the induction
of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). Although IFN-l stimulates expression of antiviral ISGs preferentially in cells
of epithelial origin, recent studies have defined additional antiviral mechanisms in other cell types and tissues.
Viral infection models using mice lacking IFN-l signaling and SNP associations with human disease
have expanded our understanding of the contribution of IFN-l to the antiviral response at anatomic barriers
and the immune response beyond these barriers. In this review, we highlight recent insights into IFN-l functions,
including its ability to restrict virus spread into the brain and to clear chronic viral infections in the
gastrointestinal tract. We also discuss how IFN-l modulates innate and adaptive immunity, autoimmunity,
and tumor progression and its possible therapeutic applications in human disease.