Abstract
Interferons (IFNs) are the hallmark of the vertebrate antiviral system. Two of the three IFN families identified in higher vertebrates are now known to be important for antiviral defence in teleost fish. Based on the cysteine patterns, the fish type I IFN family can be divided into two subfamilies, which possibly interact with distinct receptors for signalling. The fish type II IFN family consists of two members, IFN-γ with similar functions to mammalian IFN-γ and a teleost specific IFN-γ related (IFN-γrel) molecule whose functions are not fully elucidated. These two type II IFNs also appear to bind to distinct receptors to exert their functions. It has become clear that fish IFN responses are mediated by the host pattern recognition receptors and an array of transcription factors including the IFN regulatory factors, the Jak/Stat proteins and the suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) molecules.
Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Biological Evolution
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Fish Diseases / immunology*
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Fish Diseases / virology
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Fish Proteins / genetics
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Fish Proteins / immunology*
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Fishes / genetics
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Fishes / immunology*
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Gene Expression Regulation / immunology*
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Interferon Type I / classification
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Interferon Type I / genetics
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Interferon Type I / immunology*
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Interferon-gamma / classification
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Interferon-gamma / genetics
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Interferon-gamma / immunology*
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Janus Kinases / genetics
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Janus Kinases / immunology
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Phylogeny
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Receptors, Interferon / genetics
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Receptors, Interferon / immunology*
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Receptors, Pattern Recognition / genetics
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Receptors, Pattern Recognition / immunology
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STAT Transcription Factors / genetics
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STAT Transcription Factors / immunology
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Signal Transduction / immunology
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Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / genetics
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Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / immunology
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Virus Diseases / immunology*
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Virus Diseases / virology
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Viruses / immunology
Substances
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Fish Proteins
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Interferon Type I
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Receptors, Interferon
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Receptors, Pattern Recognition
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STAT Transcription Factors
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Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins
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Interferon-gamma
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Janus Kinases