Publication Abstract from PubMed
Interferon-lambda (IFN-lambda) is an antiviral cytokine that signals through a distinct receptor complex, composed of the IFN-lambdaR1 and interleukin-10R2 (IL-10R2) receptor chains. We have determined the crystal structure of human IFN-lambda3 and characterized the interaction with its receptor complex through structure-based site-directed mutagenesis. The ability of IFN-lambda3 mutants to signal was determined by measuring the antiviral activity and induced STAT2 phosphorylation. In conclusion, our data show that, although IFN-lambda is functionally an interferon, it is clearly structurally related to members of the IL-10 family. In particular, we found an interesting similarity between IFN-lambda and IL-22, and we suggest that IFN-lambda and IL-22 possess parallel functions, protecting epithelial tissue against viral and bacterial infections, respectively.
Interferon-lambda is functionally an interferon but structurally related to the interleukin-10 family.,Gad HH, Dellgren C, Hamming OJ, Vends S, Paludan SR, Hartmann R J Biol Chem. 2009 Jul 31;284(31):20869-75. Epub 2009 May 20. PMID:19457860[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
