Type III Interferons: Emerging Roles in Autoimmunity.

Authors :: Manivasagam S
Klein RS
Source :: Frontiers in immunology [Front Immunol] 2021 Nov 26; Vol. 12, pp. 764062. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Nov 26 (Print Publication: 2021).
Publication Year :: 2021
Abstract: Type III interferons (IFNs) or the lambda IFNs (IFNLs or IFN-λs) are antimicrobial cytokines that play key roles in immune host defense at endothelial and epithelial barriers. IFNLs signal via their heterodimeric receptor, comprised of two subunits, IFNLR1 and interleukin (IL)10Rβ, which defines the cellular specificity of the responses to the cytokines. Recent studies show that IFNL signaling regulates CD4+ T cell differentiation, favoring Th1 cells, which has led to the identification of IFNL as a putative therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases. Here, we summarize the IFNL signaling pathways during antimicrobial immunity, IFNL-mediated immunomodulation of both innate and adaptive immune cells, and induction of autoimmunity.<br />Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.<br /> (Copyright © 2021 Manivasagam and Klein.)