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Contribution of interferon‐β to the immune activation induced by double‐stranded DNA
Author(s) -
Shirota Hidekazu,
Ishii Ken J.,
Takakuwa Hiroki,
Klinman Dennis M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2006.02367.x
Subject(s) - immune system , chemokine , microbiology and biotechnology , interferon , trif , biology , dna , receptor , cytoplasm , chemistry , innate immune system , immunology , toll like receptor , genetics
Summary Introducing double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA) into the cytoplasm of macrophages and dendritic cells triggers the activation of these professional antigen‐presenting cells (APCs). This process is characterized by the up‐regulation of costimulatory molecules and the production of various cytokines, chemokines, and antibacterial/viral factors. Current findings indicate that interferon‐β (IFN‐β) plays a key role in the stimulatory cascade triggered by dsDNA. Both immune and non‐immune cells respond to intracytoplasmic dsDNA by up‐regulating IFN‐β) expression, a process that reduces host susceptibility to infection. The immune activation induced by dsDNA is independent of MyD88, TRIF and DNA‐PKcs, indicating that a Toll‐like receptor‐independent mechanism underlies the cellular activation mediated by intracytoplasmic dsDNA.