Current Landscape of IFN-λ: Induction, Inhibition, and Potential Clinical Applications to Treat Respiratory Viral Infections

Abstract

IFN-λ or type III IFN is an important mediator of antiviral response. Several respiratory viruses induce the production of IFN-λ during their course of infection. However, they have also developed intricate mechanisms to inhibit its expression and activity. Despite a considerable amount of research on the regulatory mechanisms of respiratory viruses on the IFN-λ response, little is still known about the effect of this cytokine on immune cells and the antiviral effects of all IFN-λ isoforms, and a better understanding of the detrimental effects of IFN-λ treatment is required. Here we highlight the relevance of IFN-λ as an antiviral cytokine in the respiratory tract. Data from studies in vitro, ex vivo, experimental animal models, and ongoing clinical trials emphasize the therapeutic opportunity that IFN-λ represents to treat and prevent different types of respiratory viral infections.

The potential of IFN-λ, IL-32γ, IL-6, and IL-22 as safeguards against human viruses: a systematic review and a meta-analysis

“…IFN-λ has been shown through in vitro experiments to specifically upregulate the antiviral genes in the epithelial cells. This results in the unique antiviral transcript profile and a strong induction of ISGs like MX Dynamin Like GTPase 2 (MX2), ISG15, and Interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 3 (IFIT3), which all contribute to the strong antiviral activity ( 93 ). Furthermore, IFN-λ offers strong defense at anatomical barriers such as epithelial surfaces and exhibits the notable antiviral activity against specific virus like EMCV, LCMV, and HSV ( 94 ).…”

miRNA profiling of lumpy skin disease virus infected primary lamb testicle cells

“…Viruses are also known to modulate host miRNAs for their effective replication in the target cells [8, 27,47]. miRNAs have been linked with disease progression/severity as well as resistance/susceptibility of the host to a particular virus/virus strain [37,39].…”