We report here the identification of a ligand-receptor system that, upon engagement, leads to the establishment of an antiviral state. Three closely positioned genes on human chromosome 19 encode distinct but paralogous proteins, which we designate interferon-lambda1 (IFN-lambda1), IFN-lambda2 and IFN-lambda3 (tentatively designated as IL-29, IL-28A and IL-28B, respectively, by HUGO). The expression of IFN-lambda mRNAs was inducible by viral infection in several cell lines. We identified a distinct receptor complex that is utilized by all three IFN-lambda proteins for signaling and is composed of two subunits, a receptor designated CRF2-12 (also designated as IFN-lambdaR1) and a second subunit, CRF2-4 (also known as IL-10R2). Both receptor chains are constitutively expressed on a wide variety of human cell lines and tissues and signal through the Jak-STAT (Janus kinases-signal transducers and activators of transcription) pathway. This receptor-ligand system may contribute to antiviral or other defenses by a mechanism similar to, but independent of, type I IFNs.

SUMMARY Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer. We performed RNA-sequencing in primary human hepatocytes activated with synthetic dsRNA to mimic HCV infection. Upstream of IFNL3 (IL28B) on chromosome 19q13.13, we discovered a novel, transiently induced region that harbors dinucleotide variant ss469415590 (TT/ΔG), which is in high linkage disequilibrium with rs12979860, a genetic marker strongly associated with HCV clearance. ss469415590-ΔG is a frame-shift variant that creates a novel primate-specific gene, designated interferon lambda 4 (IFNL4), which encodes a protein of moderate similarity with IFNL3. Compared to rs12979860, ss469415590 is more strongly associated with HCV clearance in individuals of African ancestry, whereas it provides comparable information in Europeans and Asians. Transient over-expression of IFNL4 in a hepatoma cell line induced STAT1/STAT2 phosphorylation and expression of interferon-stimulated genes. Our findings provide new insights into the genetic regulation of HCV clearance and its clinical management.

The mammalian target of rapamcyin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a key regulator of cellular metabolism and also has fundamental roles in controlling immune responses. Emerging evidence suggests that these two functions of mTORC1 are integrally linked. However, little is known regarding mTORC1 function in controlling the metabolism and function of natural killer (NK) cells, lymphocytes that play key roles in anti-viral and anti-tumour immunity. This study investigated the hypothesis that mTORC1-controlled metabolism underpins normal NK cell pro-inflammatory function. We demonstrate that mTORC1 is robustly stimulated in NK cells activated in vivo and in vitro. This mTORC1 activity is required for the production of the key NK cell effector molecules IFNγ, important in delivering antimicrobial and immunoregulatory functions, and granzyme B, a critical component of NK cell cytotoxic granules. The data reveal that NK cells undergo dramatic metabolic reprogramming upon activation, up-regulating rates of glucose uptake and glycolysis, and that mTORC1 activity is essential for attaining this elevated glycolytic state. Directly limiting the rate of glycolysis is sufficient to inhibit IFNγ production and granzyme B expression. This study provides the highly novel insight that mTORC1-mediated metabolic reprogramming of NK cells is a prerequisite for the acquisition of normal effector functions.

ore than 1.9 billion adults are overweight or obese, representing over one third of the worldwide adult population 1. The biggest health and economic burden of obesity is the large number of obesity-related co-morbidities. In addition to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, obesity is associated with an increased risk of cancer and infections 2-4. Indeed, up to 49% of certain types of cancer are now attributed to obesity 3 , and weight loss through bariatric surgery can reverse cancer risk 5. Potential mechanisms for the increased risk of cancer associated with obesity include overproduction of hormones (for example, oestrogens), adipokines (for example, leptin), and insulin, which favor cell proliferation and tumor growth 6,7. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are transcriptional regulators of cellular metabolism. It has recently been shown that obesity induces a PPAR-driven lipid metabolism program in metastatic tumor cells, which enhances metastasis and tumor cell survival 8. In intestinal stem cells, obesitydriven PPAR signaling enhances stemness and tumor progression 9. However, despite the increasing attention to the role of the immune system and inflammation in obesity-driven insulin resistance, the impact of obesity-induced dysfunction on immunosurveillance and cancer risk is not well understood. Natural killer (NK) cells have crucial roles in protective immunity against tumors and viral infections 10. NK cells kill their targets through the directed secretion of lytic granules, which contain pore-forming perforin and apoptosis-inducing granzymes 11-13. Cellular metabolism has a critical role in the function of immune cells. NK cells switch the balance of the core metabolic program from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to glycolysis to meet the increased energy required to kill tumor cells 14,15 , although the steps in the killing process that require this metabolic activation are unknown. Humans and mice with obesity display numerical and functional defects in NK cells and have an increased risk of cancer and infections. As obesity is a state of altered metabolism, we investigated the effect of obesity on the cellular metabolism, gene expression, and function of NK cells, and its contribution to cancer development. Our data show that NK cell uptake of lipids from the environment in human obesity interfered with their cellular bioenergetics, inducing 'metabolic paralysis'. Lipid-induced metabolic defects caused NK cell incompetence by inhibiting trafficking of the cytotoxic machinery, leading to loss of antitumor functions in vitro and in vivo. Our data suggest that obesity targets immunometabolic pathways and that this may be partly responsible for the increased cancer and infection risks in obesity, and suggest that metabolic reprogramming may improve innate immunosurveillance in obesity. Results Obesity induces lipid metabolism in NK cells. To better understand the effects of obesity on NK cells, we examined mouse models of diet-induced obesity. We performed transcriptional a...

The discovery and initial description of the interferon-l (IFN-l) family in early 2003 opened an exciting new chapter in the field of IFN research. There are 3 IFN-l genes that encode 3 distinct but highly related proteins denoted IFN-l1, -l2, and -l3. These proteins are also known as interleukin-29 (IL-29), IL-28A, and IL-28B, respectively. Collectively, these 3 cytokines comprise the type III subset of IFNs. They are distinct from both type I and type II IFNs for a number of reasons, including the fact that they signal through a heterodimeric receptor complex that is different from the receptors used by type I or type II IFNs. Although type I IFNs (IFN-a/b) and type III IFNs (IFN-l) signal via distinct receptor complexes, they activate the same intracellular signaling pathway and many of the same biological activities, including antiviral activity, in a wide variety of target cells. Consistent with their antiviral activity, expression of the IFN-l genes and their corresponding proteins is inducible by infection with many types of viruses. Therefore, expression of the type III IFNs (IFN-ls) and their primary biological activity are very similar to the type I IFNs. However, unlike IFN-a receptors which are broadly expressed on most cell types, including leukocytes, IFN-l receptors are largely restricted to cells of epithelial origin. The potential clinical importance of IFN-l as a novel antiviral therapeutic agent is already apparent. In addition, preclinical studies by several groups indicate that IFN-l may also be useful as a potential therapeutic agent for other clinical indications, including certain types of cancer.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) activates a diverse array of functional responses in mononuclear phagocytes. Functional IL-10 receptor (IL-10R) complexes are tetramers consisting of two IL-10R1 polypeptide chains and two IL-10R2 chains. Binding of IL-10 to the extracellular domain of IL-10R1 activates phosphorylation of the receptor-associated Janus tyrosine kinases, JAK1 and Tyk2. These kinases then phosphorylate specific tyrosine residues (Y446 and Y496) on the intracellular domain of the IL-10R1 chain. Once phosphorylated, these tyrosine residues (and their flanking peptide sequences) serve as temporary docking sites for the latent transcription factor, STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription-3). STAT3 binds to these sites via its SH2 (Src homology 2) domain, and is, in turn, tyrosine-phosphorylate d by the receptor-associated JAKs. It then homodimerizes and translocates to the nucleus where it binds with high affinity to STAT-binding elements (SBE) in the promoters of various IL-10-responsive genes. One of these genes, SOCS-3 (Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling-3) is a member of a newly identified family of genes that inhibit JAK/STAT-dependent signaling. Moreover, the ability of IL-10 to induce de novo synthesis of SOCS-3 in monocytes correlates with its ability to inhibit expression of many genes in these cells, including endotoxin-inducible cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a ) and IL-1. Thus, the ability of IL-10 to inhibit gene expression in monocytes is associated with its ability to rapidly induce synthesis of SOCS-3. 563

Recently discovered type III IFNs (IFN-L) exert their antiviral and immunomodulatory activities through a unique receptor complex composed of IFN-LR1 and interleukin-10 receptor 2. To further study type III IFNs, we cloned and characterized mouse IFN-L ligand-receptor system. We showed that, similar to their human orthologues, mIFN-L2 and mIFN-L3 signal through the IFN-L receptor complex, activate IFN stimulated gene factor 3, and are capable of inducing antiviral protection and MHC class I antigen expression in several cell types including B16 melanoma cells. We then used the murine B16 melanoma model to investigate the potential antitumor activities of IFN-Ls. We developed B16 cells constitutively expressing murine IFN-L2 (B16.IFN-L2 cells) and evaluated their tumorigenicity in syngeneic C57BL/6 mice. Although constitutive expression of mIFN-L2 in melanoma cells did not affect their proliferation in vitro, the growth of B16.IFN-L2 cells, when injected s.c. into mice, was either retarded or completely prevented. We found that rejection of the modified tumor cells correlated with their level of IFN-L2 expression. We then developed IFN-L-resistant B16.IFN-L2 cells (B16.IFNL2Res cells) and showed that their tumorigenicity was also highly impaired or completely abolished similar to B16.IFN-L2 cells, suggesting that IFN-Ls engage host mechanisms to inhibit melanoma growth. These in vivo experiments show the antitumor activities of IFN-Ls and suggest their strong therapeutic potential. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(8): 4468-77)

Activated natural killer (NK) cells engage in a robust metabolic response that is required for normal effector function. Using genetic, pharmacological and metabolic analyses, we demonstrated an essential role for Srebp transcription factors in cytokine-induced metabolic reprogramming of NK cells that was independent of their conventional role in the control of lipid synthesis. Srebp was required for elevated glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation and promoted a distinct metabolic pathway configuration in which glucose was metabolized to cytosolic citrate via the citrate-malate shuttle. Preventing the activation of Srebp or direct inhibition of the citrate-malate shuttle inhibited production of interferon-γ and NK cell cytotoxicity. Thus, Srebp controls glucose metabolism in NK cells, and this Srebp-dependent regulation is critical for NK cell effector function.