Interferon-γ plays a major role in mobilizing host defense against infection, and there is resurgent interest in its biology and prospects as a therapeutic against globally pervasive microbial pathogens.
Infectious diseases continue to claim many lives. Prevention of morbidity and mortality from these diseases would benefit not just from new medicines and vaccines but also from a better understanding of what constitutes protective immunity. Among the major immune signals that mobilize host defense against infection is interferon- γ (IFN- γ ), a protein secreted by lymphocytes. Forty years ago, IFN- γ was identified as a macrophage-activating factor, and, in recent years, there has been a resurgent interest in IFN- γ biology and its role in human defense. Here we assess the current understanding of IFN- γ , revisit its designation as an “interferon,” and weigh its prospects as a therapeutic against globally pervasive microbial pathogens.
Casanova et al. (Thu,) conducted a review in Infectious diseases. Interferon-γ was evaluated. Interferon-γ plays a major role in mobilizing host defense against infection, and there is resurgent interest in its biology and prospects as a therapeutic against globally pervasive microbial pathogens.