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Immunomodulatory Properties of Interferon‐γ: An Update a
Author(s) -
BILLIAU ALFONS,
HEREMANS HUBERTINE,
VERMEIRE KURT,
MATTHYS PATRICK
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1998.tb08309.x
Subject(s) - interferon , chemistry , computational biology , virology , medicine , biology
During the early aspecific phase of host defense, production of interferon (IFN)‐γ by natural killer cells plays an important role in bringing about acute inflammation, mainly because of the activating effects of IFN‐γ on adhesive properties of endothelial cells and on mediator production by mononuclear phagocytes (MPCs). In the subsequent antigen‐specific phase of the immune response, IFN‐γ acts as a regulator of antigen presentation and of proliferation and differentiation of lymphocyte populations. Immunosuppressive as well as immunostimulatory effects may result from these actions. High‐level production of IFN‐γ during this phase of host defense is now classically seen as a hallmark of a T‐helper 1 (TH1)‐type reaction, characterized by activation of antimicrobial activity of macrophages and by inflammatory reactions with a DTH character. Development of TH1‐type lymphocyte populations producing IFN‐γ is regulated by other cytokines including interleukin (IL)‐12. In many systems IL‐12 and IFN‐γ act in a similar fashion, and a current subject of debate is the question of whether all activities of IL‐12 are mediated by IFN‐γ. Another question is whether IFN‐γ, by its ability to potentiate MPCs' ability to produce IL‐12, plays a role in bringing about or stabilizing TH1 type responses. In two model systems of autoimmune disease, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and collagen‐induced arthritis, IL‐12 and IFN‐γ were found to act independently.