Interferon-epsilon protects the female reproductive tract from viral and bacterial infection

Author: Fung, K.Y.; Mangan, N.E.; Cumming, H.; Horvat, J.C.; Mayall, J.R.; Stifter, S.A.; De Weerd, N.; Roisman, L.C.; Rossjohn, J.; Robertson, S.A.; Schjenken, J.E.; Parker, B.; Gargett, C.E.; Nguyen, H.P.T.; Carr, D.J.; Hansbro, P.M.; Hertzog, P.J.

Description: The innate immune system senses pathogens through pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) that signal to induce effector cytokines, such as type I interferons (IFNs). We characterized IFN-epsilon as a type I IFN because it signaled via the Ifnar1 and Ifnar2 receptors to induce IFN-regulated genes. In contrast to other type I IFNs, IFN-epsilon was not induced by known PRR pathways; instead, IFN-epsilon was constitutively expressed by epithelial cells of the female reproductive tract (FRT) and was hormonally regulated. Ifn-epsilon-deficient mice had increased susceptibility to infection of the FRT by the common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) herpes simplex virus 2 and Chlamydia muridarum. Thus, IFN-epsilon is a potent antipathogen and immunoregulatory cytokine that may be important in combating STIs that represent a major global health and socioeconomic burden.

Subject headings: Animals; Cell Line; Chlamydia Infections/genetics/immunology; Chlamydia muridarum; Estrogens/administration & dosage/immunology; Female; HEK293 Cells; Herpes Genitalis/genetics/immunology; Herpesvirus 2, Human; Humans; Interferons/genetics/immunology; Ligands; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides/immunology; Poly I-C/immunology; Poly dA-dT/immunology; Toll-Like Receptors/immunology; Uterus/immunology; Vagina/immunology/microbiology/virology

Publication year: 2013

Journal or book title: Science

Volume: 339

Issue: 6123

Pages: 1088-1092

Find the full text : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3617553/

Find more like this one (cited by): https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cites=14065254953841255383&as_sdt=1000005&sciodt=0,16&hl=en

Type: Journal Article

Serial number: 3036