Interferon-gamma
Interferon-gamma
Interferon-gamma (pronounced: in-ter-FEER-on GAM-uh), often abbreviated as IFN-γ, is a type of protein that plays a crucial role in the immune system.
Etymology
The term "Interferon-gamma" is derived from its ability to "interfere" with viral replication, and "gamma" is used to differentiate it from other types of interferons.
Function
Interferon-gamma is a cytokine that is critical for innate and adaptive immunity against viral and intracellular bacterial infections and for tumor control. It is produced predominantly by natural killer (NK) and natural killer T (NKT) cells as part of the innate immune response, and by CD4 Th1 and CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) effector T cells once antigen-specific immunity develops.
Related Terms
- Cytokine: A type of protein that is important in cell signaling in the immune system.
- Natural Killer Cell: A type of white blood cell that is part of the immune system and helps to fight off infections and cancer.
- CD4 Th1: A type of T cell that plays a role in the immune response to infections.
- CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocyte: A type of T cell that can kill cancer cells, cells that are infected (particularly with viruses), or cells that are damaged in other ways.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Interferon-gamma
- Wikipedia's article - Interferon-gamma
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