IFN-Lambda (IFN-λ) Is Expressed in a Tissue-Dependent Fashion and Primarily Acts on Epithelial Cells In Vivo

Interferons (IFN) exert antiviral, immunomodulatory and cytostatic activities. IFN-alpha/beta (type I IFN) and IFN-lambda (type III IFN) bind distinct receptors, but regulate similar sets of genes and exhibit strikingly similar biological activities. We analyzed to what extent the IFN-alpha/beta and IFN-lambda systems overlap in vivo in terms of expression and response. We observed a certain degree of tissue specificity in the production of IFN-lambda. In the brain, IFN-alpha/beta was readily produced after infection with various RNA viruses, whereas expression of IFN-lambda was low in this organ. In the liver, virus infection induced the expression of both IFN-alpha/beta and IFN-lambda genes. Plasmid…

• FP
  Fondation pour l'Aide à la Recherche sur la Sclérose en Plaques
• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
• FD
  Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS
• FC
  Fondation Charcot
• FP
  Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l’Industrie et dans l’Agriculture