Speaker: A/Prof Meredith O'Keeffe
NHMRC Senior Research Fellow
Lab Head
Department Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Monash University
The IFN-lambda (l) cytokine family is encoded by 2 genes in mouse (IFN-l2 and IFN-l3) and a total of 4 genes in humans, (l1-l4). IFN- l demonstrates potent anti-viral activity against several viruses, mediated by STAT signalling via the novel IFN- l receptor, a heterodimer of the IL-10Rb and the novel IL-28RA chain. Signalling via the IFN- l receptor leads to the expression of ISGs that resemble those induced by type I IFNs (IFN-I). However, the receptor for IFN-l exhibits highly restricted expression. It is expressed by neutrophils and it is also expressed by hepatocytes and throughout epithelial surfaces including in the intestine, kidney and skin. Moreover, the receptor is expressed by dendritic cells (DC) in the steady state and this is further upregulated during DC activation.