《生命科学》 2011, 23(8): 749-752

Ⅲ型干扰素——新型抗病毒细胞因子

杨　祎，侯　炜^*

(武汉大学基础医学院，医学病毒研究所/病毒学国家重点实验室，武汉 430071)

摘　要：摘　要：干扰素(IFN)是抗病毒感染的第一道防线，Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型干扰素不仅可抑制病毒，而且还能参与天然免疫反应和获得性免疫反应。最近干扰素家族增添一位新成员：Ⅲ型干扰素，即IFN-λ，因其具有类似干扰素的抗病毒活性且能诱导干扰素相关基因的表达而命名。IFN-λ受体与Ⅰ型干扰素的受体不同，但具有与Ⅰ型干扰素类似的诱导表达方式和信号转导通路，并能激活一系列相似的干扰素刺激基因。就IFN-λ家族及其受体、基因表达和信号转导机制、抗病毒作用等进行综述。
关键词：Ⅲ型干扰素(IFN-λ)；天然免疫； 抗病毒作用

IFN-λ: a novel cytokine in innate antiviral immunity

YANG Yi， HOU Wei^*

(State Key Laboratory of Virology/Institute of Medical Virology， School of Basic Medical Science， Wuhan University， Wuhan 430071， China)

Abstract: Abstract: The first line of defense against viral infections is mediated by interferons (IFNs)， which are produced rapidly by the infected host.  Type I IFNs (IFN-α/β) and type II IFNs (IFN-γ) are known to combat viruses both directly by inhibiting viral replication in the cells and indirectly by stimulating the innate and adaptive immune responses. Recently， a novel class of cytokines was discovered and named IFN-λ “alternatively type III IFN or interleukin-28/29 (IL-28/29)”， based on IFN-like antiviral activity and induction of typical IFN-inducible genes.  Although IFN-λ and IFN-α/β bind distinct receptors， IFN-λ has the similar type I interferon induced expression and signal transduction pathways， and can activate a series of similar interferon stimulated genes (ISGs).  Here， we review the literature on IFN-λ and discuss the current knowledge of the functions and mechanisms of action of IFN-λ.
Key words: type III IFNs (IFN-λ); innate immunity; antiviral activity