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Review
. 2023 Aug;53(8):e2250307.
doi: 10.1002/eji.202250307. Epub 2023 Jun 27.

Heterogeneity and functions of the 13 IFN-α subtypes - lucky for some?

Thomas R J Moreau  1   2 , Vincent Bondet  2 , Mathieu P Rodero  1 , Darragh Duffy  2
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Heterogeneity and functions of the 13 IFN-α subtypes - lucky for some?

Thomas R J Moreau et al. Eur J Immunol. 2023 Aug.
Free article

Abstract

Type I IFNs are critical for host responses to viral infection and are also implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple autoimmune diseases. Multiple subtypes exist within the type I IFN family, in particular 13 distinct IFN-α genes, which signal through the same heterodimer receptor that is ubiquitously expressed by mammalian cells. Both evolutionary genetic studies and functional antiviral assays strongly suggest differential functions and activity between the 13 IFN-α subtypes, yet we still lack a clear understanding of these different roles. This review summarizes the evidence from studies describing differential functions of IFN-α subtypes and highlights potential reasons for discrepancies between the reports. We examine both acute and chronic viral infection, as well as autoimmunity, and integrate a more recent awareness of the importance of anti-IFN-α autoantibodies in shaping the type I IFN responses in these different conditions.

Keywords: Autoantibodies; Autoimmunity; IFN-α, Infection; Type I IFNs.

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