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Type I interferon suppresses type II interferon-triggered human anti-mycobacterial responses.

Abstract

Type I interferons (IFN-α and IFN-β) are important for protection against many viral infections, whereas type II interferon (IFN-γ) is essential for host defense against some bacterial and parasitic pathogens. Study of IFN responses in human leprosy revealed an inverse correlation between IFN-β and IFN-γ gene expression programs. IFN-γ and its downstream vitamin D-dependent antimicrobial genes were preferentially expressed in self-healing tuberculoid lesions and mediated antimicrobial activity against the pathogen Mycobacterium leprae in vitro. In contrast, IFN-β and its downstream genes, including interleukin-10 (IL-10), were induced in monocytes by M. leprae in vitro and preferentially expressed in disseminated and progressive lepromatous lesions. The IFN-γ-induced macrophage vitamin D-dependent antimicrobial peptide response was inhibited by IFN-β and by IL-10, suggesting that the differential production of IFNs contributes to protection versus pathogenesis in some human bacterial infections.

More information

Type
Journal Article
Author
Teles R
Graeber T
Krutzik SR
Montoya DJ
Schenk M
Lee DJ
Komisopoulou E
Kelly-Scumpia K
Chun R
Iyer S
Sarno E
Rea T
Hewison M
Adams J
Popper SJ
Relman D
Stenger S
Bloom B
Cheng G
Modlin RL

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