Table 1 Subtypes of IFN family
Type | Class (no. of subtypes) | Chromosomal loci | Receptor | Receptor’s chromosomal | Commercially-available recombinant products (trade name) | Cellular source | Inducing agent | Major activity | Clinical application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ia | α (16) | 9p | IFNAR1 IFNAR2 | 21 21 | IFNα-2a (Roferon A) IFNα-2b (Intron A, Reliferon, Uniferon) PEGylated IFNα-2a (Pegasys, Reiferon Retard) PEGylated IFNα-2b (PegIntron, Pegetron) | Leukocytes (especially pDCsb), lymphoblastoid cells | Viruses; dsRNA, B-cell mitogens, foreign cells, tumor cells | Anti-tumor, anti-viral | Anti-tumor (hematological malignancies such as leukemia and lymphomas, solid tumors such as melanoma and Kaposi sarcoma), anti-vira (hepatitis B and C) |
β (2) | IFNβ-1a (Rebif, Avonex, Cinnovex) IFNβ-1b (Betaseron/Betaferon) | Fibroblasts, epithelial cells | Viruses; dsRNA | Balances pro- and antiinflammatory agents in The brain | FDA approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) | ||||
II | γ (1) | 12q12 | IFNGR1 IFNGR2 | 6 21 | IFNγ-1b (Actimmune) | CD4 and CD8 T cells, NK cells, NKT cells, macrophages, DCs, B cells | Mitogenic or antigenic agents | Immunoregulation; potent phagocyte-activating effects and enhancement of ADCC And NK activity | FDA approved for treatment of chronic granulomatous disease (TB, mycosis) and osteopetrosis |
III | λ (3) | 19 | IFNLR1 IL10R2 | 1 21 | PEGylated IFNλ-1a | pDCs | IFNα, IFNλ, viruses | Anti-tumor anti-viral | Phase II clinical trial as anti-viral agent in chronic HBV infection |