Interferon-α and interferon-β are type I interferons. These antiviral cytokines are mainly produced by virus-infected cells after sensing the presence of danger signals such as viral DNA or RNA. IFN-α and IFN-β act through the same receptor and initiate an anti-viral response, affect immune regulation, T cell responses, and also anti-tumor effects have been shown. A key producer of type I interferons is the plasmacytoid dendritic cell. Additionally, IFN-α is secreted by lymphocytes, macrophages, fibroblasts, and dendritic cells.
In humans, interferon-α has 13 subtypes: IFN-α 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, and 21.
In mice, there are 14 IFN-α subtypes: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6T, 7/10, 8/6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 (A), and B. There are also different allelic forms of mouse IFN-α subtypes 1, 7/10, 8/6, and 11 in mouse strains 129/Sv and C57BL/6.
| Alternative analyte names: | Interferon-α, Interferon-alpha, IFN-α, IFN-alpha, IFN-a, IFNA |
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