Question

What are interferons?

Answer 1

These are the most important modulators of the immune system which are produced by the body cells as a defense response to viruses. They are complexes that increase the antigen presentation and help other cells, surrounding the infected cell to understand that there is some viral attack going on.

Complete answer:
- Interferons are a group of glycoproteins that play a major role in the immune system during the first line of defense (innate immunity), primarily against viral infections.
- The cells which are infected by the virus or the tumor cells of the body secrete certain proteins known as glycoproteins, which protect the non-infected cells of the body from the pathogenic attack.
- These glycoproteins are known as interferons.
- Interferons function to activate the macrophages which are natural killer cells preventing viral replication.
- These compounds increase the antigen presentation of lymphocytes and work to protect the surrounding cells from interference with the name so because of their ability to interfere with the viral infection and protect others from encountering it.

Interferons are of two types as follows:
• Type I Interferons, which include interferon-alpha and interferon-beta are produced by virus-infected cells, thereby signaling to the immune system about the viral infection and need for action.
• Type II Interferons, including interferon-gamma, are produced by specific activated T-cells or NK (Natural Killer)-cells.

Note: There are three forms of interferons that have been recognized- alpha, beta, and gamma. These are classified into two types-
- Type 1 containing the alpha and beta forms
- Type 2 containing the gamma form