| First Author | Fung KY | Year | 2013 |
| Journal | Science | Volume | 339 |
| Issue | 6123 | Pages | 1088-92 |
| PubMed ID | 23449591 | Mgi Jnum | J:197569 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5493380 | Doi | 10.1126/science.1233321 |
| Citation | Fung KY, et al. (2013) Interferon-epsilon protects the female reproductive tract from viral and bacterial infection. Science 339(6123):1088-92 |
| abstractText | 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. |
