Virus-infected cells secrete a broad range of interferon (IFN) subtypes which in turn trigger the synthesis of antiviral factors that confer host resistance. IFN-alpha, IFN-beta and other type I IFNs signal through a common universally expressed cell surface receptor, whereas IFN-lambda uses a distinct receptor complex for signaling that is not present on all cell types. Since type I IFN receptor-deficient mice (IFNAR1(0/0)) exhibit greatly increased susceptibility to various viral diseases, it remained unclear to which degree IFN-lambda might contribute to innate immunity. To address this issue we performed influenza A virus infections of mice which carry functional alleles of the influenza virus resistance gene Mx1 and which, therefore, develop a more complete innate immune response to influenza viruses than standard laboratory mice. We demonstrate that intranasal administration of IFN-lambda readily induced the antiviral factor Mx1 in mouse lungs and efficiently protected IFNAR1(0/0) mice from lethal influenza virus infection. By contrast, intraperitoneal application of IFN-lambda failed to induce Mx1 in the liver of IFNAR1(0/0) mice and did not protect against hepatotropic virus infections. Mice lacking functional IFN-lambda receptors were only slightly more susceptible to influenza virus than wild-type mice. However, mice lacking functional receptors for both IFN-alpha/beta and IFN-lambda were hypersensitive and even failed to restrict usually non-pathogenic influenza virus mutants lacking the IFN-antagonistic factor NS1. Interestingly, the double-knockout mice were not more susceptible against hepatotropic viruses than IFNAR1(0/0) mice. From these results we conclude that IFN-lambda contributes to inborn resistance against viral pathogens infecting the lung but not the liver.
Yoneyama Mitsutoshi, Fujita Takashi, Function of RIG-I-like Receptors in Antiviral Innate Immunity, 10.1074/jbc.r700007200
Takaoka Akinori, Wang ZhiChao, Choi Myoung Kwon, Yanai Hideyuki, Negishi Hideo, Ban Tatsuma, Lu Yan, Miyagishi Makoto, Kodama Tatsuhiko, Honda Kenya, Ohba Yusuke, Taniguchi Tadatsugu, DAI (DLM-1/ZBP1) is a cytosolic DNA sensor and an activator of innate immune response, 10.1038/nature06013
Uematsu Satoshi, Akira Shizuo, Toll-like Receptors and Type I Interferons, 10.1074/jbc.r700009200
Coccia Eliana M., Severa Martina, Giacomini Elena, Monneron Danièle, Remoli Maria Elena, Julkunen Ilkka, Cella Marina, Lande Roberto, Uzé Gilles, Viral infection and Toll-like receptor agonists induce a differential expression of type I and λ interferons in human plasmacytoid and monocyte-derived dendritic cells, 10.1002/eji.200324610
Pestka Sidney, Krause Christopher D., Walter Mark R., Interferons, interferon-like cytokines, and their receptors, 10.1111/j.0105-2896.2004.00204.x
van Pesch V., Lanaya H., Renauld J.-C., Michiels T., Characterization of the Murine Alpha Interferon Gene Family, 10.1128/jvi.78.15.8219-8228.2004
Kotenko Sergei V., Gallagher Grant, Baurin Vitaliy V., Lewis-Antes Anita, Shen Meiling, Shah Nital K., Langer Jerome A., Sheikh Faruk, Dickensheets Harold, Donnelly Raymond P., IFN-λs mediate antiviral protection through a distinct class II cytokine receptor complex, 10.1038/ni875
Sheppard Paul, Kindsvogel Wayne, Xu Wenfeng, Henderson Katherine, Schlutsmeyer Stacy, Whitmore Theodore E., Kuestner Rolf, Garrigues Ursula, Birks Carl, Roraback Jenny, Ostrander Craig, Dong Dennis, Shin Jinu, Presnell Scott, Fox Brian, Haldeman Betty, Cooper Emily, Taft David, Gilbert Teresa, Grant Francis J., Tackett Monica, Krivan William, McKnight Gary, Clegg Chris, Foster Don, Klucher Kevin M., IL-28, IL-29 and their class II cytokine receptor IL-28R, 10.1038/ni873
Dumoutier Laure, Tounsi Amel, Michiels Thomas, Sommereyns Caroline, Kotenko Sergei V., Renauld Jean-Christophe, Role of the Interleukin (IL)-28 Receptor Tyrosine Residues for Antiviral and Antiproliferative Activity of IL-29/Interferon-λ1 : SIMILARITIES WITH TYPE I INTERFERON SIGNALING, 10.1074/jbc.m404789200
Zhou Z., Hamming O. J., Ank N., Paludan S. R., Nielsen A. L., Hartmann R., Type III Interferon (IFN) Induces a Type I IFN-Like Response in a Restricted Subset of Cells through Signaling Pathways Involving both the Jak-STAT Pathway and the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases, 10.1128/jvi.02438-06
Brand S., IL-28A and IL-29 mediate antiproliferative and antiviral signals in intestinal epithelial cells and murine CMV infection increases colonic IL-28A expression, 10.1152/ajpgi.00126.2005
Lasfar Ahmed, Lewis-Antes Anita, Smirnov Sergey V., Anantha Shubha, Abushahba Walid, Tian Bin, Reuhl Kenneth, Dickensheets Harold, Sheikh Faruk, Donnelly Raymond P., Raveche Elizabeth, Kotenko Sergei V., Characterization of the Mouse IFN-λ Ligand-Receptor System: IFN-λs Exhibit Antitumor Activity against B16 Melanoma, 10.1158/0008-5472.can-05-3653
Sommereyns Caroline, Paul Sophie, Staeheli Peter, Michiels Thomas, IFN-Lambda (IFN-λ) Is Expressed in a Tissue-Dependent Fashion and Primarily Acts on Epithelial Cells In Vivo, 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000017
Ank N., Iversen M. B., Bartholdy C., Staeheli P., Hartmann R., Jensen U. B., Dagnaes-Hansen F., Thomsen A. R., Chen Z., Haugen H., Klucher K., Paludan S. R., An Important Role for Type III Interferon (IFN- /IL-28) in TLR-Induced Antiviral Activity, 10.4049/jimmunol.180.4.2474
Muller U, Steinhoff U, Reis L., Hemmi S, Pavlovic J, Zinkernagel R., Aguet M, Functional role of type I and type II interferons in antiviral defense, 10.1126/science.8009221
Staeheli P, Grob R, Meier E, Sutcliffe J G, Haller O, Influenza virus-susceptible mice carry Mx genes with a large deletion or a nonsense mutation., 10.1128/mcb.8.10.4518
Tumpey T. M., Szretter K. J., Van Hoeven N., Katz J. M., Kochs G., Haller O., Garcia-Sastre A., Staeheli P., The Mx1 Gene Protects Mice against the Pandemic 1918 and Highly Lethal Human H5N1 Influenza Viruses, 10.1128/jvi.01116-07
O Haller, J Virol, 69, 2596 (1995)
Koerner I., Kochs G., Kalinke U., Weiss S., Staeheli P., Protective Role of Beta Interferon in Host Defense against Influenza A Virus, 10.1128/jvi.01718-06
Marie I., Differential viral induction of distinct interferon-alpha genes by positive feedback through interferon regulatory factor-7, 10.1093/emboj/17.22.6660
García-Sastre Adolfo, Egorov Andrej, Matassov Demetrius, Brandt Sabine, Levy David E., Durbin Joan E., Palese Peter, Muster Thomas, Influenza A Virus Lacking the NS1 Gene Replicates in Interferon-Deficient Systems, 10.1006/viro.1998.9508
Kochs G., Koerner I., Thiel L., Kothlow S., Kaspers B., Ruggli N., Summerfield A., Pavlovic J., Stech J., Staeheli P., Properties of H7N7 influenza A virus strain SC35M lacking interferon antagonist NS1 in mice and chickens, 10.1099/vir.0.82764-0
Hagmaier K., Jennings S., Buse J., Weber F., Kochs G., Novel Gene Product of Thogoto Virus Segment 6 Codes for an Interferon Antagonist, 10.1128/jvi.77.4.2747-2752.2003
Ank Nina, West Hans, Paludan Søren R., IFN-λ: Novel Antiviral Cytokines, 10.1089/jir.2006.26.373
Bouloy M., Janzen C., Vialat P., Khun H., Pavlovic J., Huerre M., Haller O., Genetic Evidence for an Interferon-Antagonistic Function of Rift Valley Fever Virus Nonstructural Protein NSs, 10.1128/jvi.75.3.1371-1377.2001
Domanski Paul, Witte Michael, Kellum Merril, Rubinstein Menachem, Hackett Rebecca, Pitha Paula, Colamonici Oscar R., Cloning and Expression of a Long Form of the β Subunit of the Interferon αβ Receptor That Is Required for Signaling, 10.1074/jbc.270.37.21606
Robek M. D., Boyd B. S., Chisari F. V., Lambda Interferon Inhibits Hepatitis B and C Virus Replication, 10.1128/jvi.79.6.3851-3854.2005
Decker Thomas, Stockinger Silvia, Karaghiosoff Marina, Müller Mathias, Kovarik Pavel, IFNs and STATs in innate immunity to microorganisms, 10.1172/jci0215770
Bartlett N. W., Murine interferon lambdas (type III interferons) exhibit potent antiviral activity in vivo in a poxvirus infection model, 10.1099/vir.0.80904-0
Johnson T. R., Mertz S. E., Gitiban N., Hammond S., LeGallo R., Durbin R. K., Durbin J. E., Role for Innate IFNs in Determining Respiratory Syncytial Virus Immunopathology, 10.4049/jimmunol.174.11.7234
Horisberger M. A., Staeheli P., Haller O., Interferon induces a unique protein in mouse cells bearing a gene for resistance to influenza virus., 10.1073/pnas.80.7.1910
Chi B., Dickensheets H. L., Spann K. M., Alston M. A., Luongo C., Dumoutier L., Huang J., Renauld J.-C., Kotenko S. V., Roederer M., Beeler J. A., Donnelly R. P., Collins P. L., Rabin R. L., Alpha and Lambda Interferon Together Mediate Suppression of CD4 T Cells Induced by Respiratory Syncytial Virus, 10.1128/jvi.80.10.5032-5040.2006
Horisberger M. A., de Staritzky K., A Recombinant Human Interferon- B/D Hybrid with a Broad Host-range, 10.1099/0022-1317-68-3-945
Flohr Felix, Schneider-Schaulies Sibylle, Haller Otto, Kochs Georg, The central interactive region of human MxA GTPase is involved in GTPase activation and interaction with viral target structures, 10.1016/s0014-5793(99)01598-7
Bibliographic reference
Mordstein, Markus ; Kochs, Georg ; Dumoutier, Laure ; Renauld, Jean-Christophe ; Paludan, Søren R ; et. al. Interferon-lambda contributes to innate immunity of mice against influenza A virus but not against hepatotropic viruses.. In: PLoS Pathogens, Vol. 4, no. 9, p. e1000151 (2008)