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13  structures 125  species 1  interaction 229  sequences 1  architecture

Family: IFN-gamma (PF00714)

Summary: Interferon gamma

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This is the Wikipedia entry entitled "Interferon-gamma". More...

Interferon-gamma Edit Wikipedia article

Interferon, gamma

Line representation of the crystallographic structure of interferon gamma.[1]
Available structures
PDB Ortholog search: PDBe, RCSB
Identifiers
Symbols IFNG; IFG; IFI
External IDs OMIM: 147570 MGI: 107656 HomoloGene: 55526 GeneCards: IFNG Gene
RNA expression pattern
PBB GE IFNG 210354 at tn.png
More reference expression data
Orthologs
Species Human Mouse
Entrez 3458 15978
Ensembl ENSG00000111537 ENSMUSG00000055170
UniProt P01579 P01580
RefSeq (mRNA) NM_000619 NM_008337
RefSeq (protein) NP_000610 NP_032363
Location (UCSC) Chr 12:
68.55 – 68.55 Mb		 Chr 10:
118.44 – 118.45 Mb
PubMed search [1] [2]
This box:
Interferon gamma
PDB 1eku EBI.jpg
crystal structure of a biologically active single chain mutant of human ifn-gamma
Identifiers
Symbol IFN-gamma
Pfam PF00714
Pfam clan CL0053
InterPro IPR002069
SCOP 1rfb
SUPERFAMILY 1rfb
Interferon-gamma
Systematic (IUPAC) name
Human interferon gamma-1b
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com monograph
MedlinePlus a601152
Pregnancy cat.  ?
Legal status  ?
Identifiers
CAS number 82115-62-6 YesY 98059-61-1
ATC code L03AB03
DrugBank DB00033
ChEMBL CHEMBL1201564 N
Chemical data
Formula C761H1206N214O225S6 
Mol. mass 17145.6 g/mol
 N (what is this?)  (verify)

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is a dimerized soluble cytokine that is the only member of the type II class of interferons.[2] The existence of this interferon, which early in its history was known as immune interferon, was recognized in 1970[3] when tuberculin-sensitized peritoneal cells were challenged with PPD and resulting supernatants were shown to inhibit growth of vesicular stomatitis virus. That report also contained the basic observation underlying the now widely employed interferon gamma release assay used to test for TB. This interferon was later called macrophage-activating factor, a term now used to describe a larger family of proteins to which IFN-γ belongs. In humans, the IFN-γ protein is encoded by the IFNG gene.[4][5]

Contents

[edit] Function

IFN-γ, or type II interferon, is a cytokine that is critical for innate and adaptive immunity against viral and intracellular bacterial infections and for tumor control. IFN-γ is an important activator of macrophages. Aberrant IFN-γ expression is associated with a number of autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The importance of IFN-γ in the immune system stems in part from its ability to inhibit viral replication directly, and most importantly from its immunostimulatory and immunomodulatory effects. IFN-γ is produced predominantly by natural killer (NK) and natural killer T (NKT) cells as part of the innate immune response, and by CD4 Th1 and CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) effector T cells once antigen-specific immunity develops.[5][6]

[edit] Structure

The IFN-γ monomer consists of a core of six α-helices and an extended unfolded sequence in the C-terminal region.[7][1] This is shown in the structural models below. The α-helices in the core of the structure are numbered 1 to 6.

Figure 1. Line and cartoon representation of an IFN-γ monomer.[1]

The biologically active dimer is formed by anti-parallel inter-locking of the two monomers as shown below. In the cartoon model, one monomer is shown in red, the other in blue.

Figure 2. Line and cartoon representation of an IFN-γ dimer.[1]

[edit] Receptor binding

Figure 3. IFN dimer interacting with two IFNGR1 receptor molecules.[1]
See also: Interferon-gamma receptor

Cellular responses to IFN-γ are activated through its interaction with a heterodimeric receptor consisting of Interferon gamma receptor 1 (IFNGR1) and Interferon gamma receptor 2 (IFNGR2). IFN-γ binding to the receptor activates the JAK-STAT pathway. IFN-γ also binds to the glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate (HS) at the cell surface. However, in contrast to many other heparan sulfate binding proteins, where binding promotes biological activity, the binding of IFN-γ to HS inhibits its biological activity.[8]

The structural models shown in figures 1-3 for IFN-γ[1] are all shortened at their C-termini by 17 amino acids. Full length IFN-γ is 143 amino acids long, the models are 126 amino acids long. Affinity for heparan sulfate resides solely within the deleted sequence of 17 amino acids.[9] Within this sequence of 17 amino acids lie two clusters of basic amino acids termed D1 and D2, respectively. Heparan sulfate interacts with both of these clusters.[10] In the absence of heparan sulfate the presence of the D1 sequence increases the rate at which IFN-γ-receptor complexes form.[8] Interactions between the D1 cluster of amino acids and the receptor may be the first step in complex formation. By binding to D1 HS may compete with the receptor and prevent active receptor complexes from forming.

The biological significance of heparan sulfates interaction with IFN-γ is unclear, however binding of the D1 cluster to HS may protect it from proteolytic cleavage.[10]

[edit] Biological activity

It was believed earlier that IFN-γ is secreted by T helper cells (specifically, Th1 cells), cytotoxic T cells (TC cells) and NK cells only. But later studies showed that myeloid cells, dendritic cells and macrophage in particular, also secrets IFN-γ that is likely important for cell self activation during the onset of the infection. Also, IFN-γ is the only Type II interferon and it is serologically distinct from Type I interferons: it is acid-labile, while the type I variants are acid-stable.

IFN-γ has antiviral, immunoregulatory, and anti-tumor properties.[11] It alters transcription in up to 30 genes producing a variety of physiological and cellular responses. Among the effects are:

  • Promotes NK cell activity
  • Increase antigen presentation and lysosome activity of macrophages.
  • Activate inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase iNOS
  • Induces the production of IgG2a and IgG3 from activated plasma B cells
  • Promotes Th1 differentiation by upregulating the transcription factor T-bet, ultimately leading to cellular immunity: cytotoxic CD8+ T-cells and macrophage activity - while suppressing Th2 differentiation which would cause a humoral (antibody) response
  • Cause normal cells to increase expression of class I MHC molecules as well as class II MHC on antigen presenting cells—specifically through induction of antigen processing genes, including subunits of the immunoproteasome (MECL1, LMP2, LMP7), as well as TAP and ERAAP in addition possibly to the direct upregulation of MHC heavy chains and B2-microglobulin itself
  • Promotes adhesion and binding required for leukocyte migration
  • Induces the expression of intrinsic defense factors—for example with respect to retroviruses, relevant genes include TRIM5alpha, APOBEC, and Tetherin, representing directly antiviral effects

IFN-γ is the primary cytokine which defines Th1 cells: Th1 cells secrete IFN-γ, which in turn causes more undifferentiated CD4+ cells (Th0 cells) to differentiate into Th1 cells, representing a positive feedback loop—while suppressing Th2 cell differentiation. (Equivalent defining cytokines for other cells include IL-4 for Th2 cells and IL-17 for Th17 cells.)

NK cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells also produce IFN-γ. IFN-γ suppresses osteoclast formation by rapidly degrading the RANK adaptor protein TRAF6 in the RANK-RANKL signaling pathway, which otherwise stimulates the production of NF-κB.

[edit] Activity in Granuloma Formation

A granuloma is the body's way of dealing with a substance it cannot remove or sterilize. Infectious causes of granulomas (infections are typically the most common cause of granulomas) include tuberculosis, leprosy, histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis and cat scratch disease. Examples of non-infectious granulomatous diseases are sarcoidosis, Crohn's disease, berylliosis, giant-cell arteritis, Wegener's granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome, pulmonary rheumatoid nodules and aspiration of food and other particulate material into the lung. The infectious pathophysiology of granulomas is discussed primarily here.

The key association between interferon-γ and granulomas is that interferon-γ activates macrophages so that they become more powerful in killing intracellular organisms. Activation of macrophages by Th1 helper cell's hallmark cytokine interferon-γ in mycobacterial infections, allows the macrophages to overcome the inhibition of phagolysosome maturation caused by mycobacteria (to stay alive inside macrophages). So the first step is the activation of Th1 helper cells by macrophages releasing IL-1 and IL-12 in the presence of intracellular pathogens, as well as the presentation of some of antigens in MHC class II surface protein. Next the Th1 helper cells aggregate around the macrophages and release interferon-γ which causes the activation of macrophages. Further activation of macrophages causes a cycle of further killing of intracellular bacteria, further presentation of antigens to Th1 helper cells with further release of interferon-γ. Finally, macrophages surround the Th1 helper cells and become fibroblast-like cells further walling off the infection.

[edit] Activity during pregnancy

Uterine Natural Killer cells (NK) secrete high levels of chemoattractants, such as IFN-γ. IFN-γ dilates and thins the walls of maternal spiral arteries to enhance blood flow to the implantation site. This remodeling aids in the development of the placenta as it invades the uterus in its quest for nutrients. IFN-γ knockout mice fail to initiate normal pregnancy-induced modification of decidual arteries. These models display abnormally low amounts of cells or necrosis of decidua.[12]

[edit] Therapeutic use

Interferon-γ 1b is used to treat chronic granulomatous disease[13] and osteopetrosis.[14] It is manufactured by InterMune as Actimmune and costs around USD300 per vial.[citation needed].

A study accepted for publishing in March 2012 has shown "..treatment with IFNγ increases frataxin expression in DRG neurons, prevents their pathological changes and ameliorates the sensorimotor performance in FRDA mice",[15] providing a potential treatment for patients with Friedreich's ataxia. Human trials have not yet been conducted.

[edit] Interactions

Interferon-γ has been shown to interact with Interferon gamma receptor 1.[16][17]

[edit] Regulation

There is evidence that interferon-gamma expression is regulated by a pseudoknotted element in its 5' UTR.[18] There is also evidence that interferon-gamma is regulated either directly or indirectly by the microRNAs: miR-29.[19]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f PDB 1FG9; Thiel DJ, le Du MH, Walter RL, D'Arcy A, Chène C, Fountoulakis M, Garotta G, Winkler FK, Ealick SE (September 2000). "Observation of an unexpected third receptor molecule in the crystal structure of human interferon-gamma receptor complex". Structure 8 (9): 927–36. doi:10.1016/S0969-2126(00)00184-2. PMID 10986460. 
  2. ^ Gray PW, Goeddel DV (August 1982). "Structure of the human immune interferon gene". Nature 298 (5877): 859–63. doi:10.1038/298859a0. PMID 6180322. 
  3. ^ Milstone, LM; Waksman BH (1970). "Release of virus inhibitor from tuberculin-sensitized peritoneal cells stimulated by antigen". J Immunol 105: 1068–1071. PMID 4321289. 
  4. ^ Naylor SL, Sakaguchi AY, Shows TB, Law ML, Goeddel DV, Gray PW (March 1983). "Human immune interferon gene is located on chromosome 12". J. Exp. Med. 157 (3): 1020–7. doi:10.1084/jem.157..1020. PMC 2186972. PMID 6403645. 
  5. ^ a b "Entrez Gene: IFNGR2". 
  6. ^ Schoenborn JR, Wilson CB (2007). "Regulation of interferon-gamma during innate and adaptive immune responses". Adv. Immunol. 96: 41–101. doi:10.1016/S0065-2776(07)96002-2. PMID 17981204. 
  7. ^ Ealick SE, Cook WJ, Vijay-Kumar S, et al. (May 1991). "Three-dimensional structure of recombinant human interferon-gamma". Science 252 (5006): 698–702. doi:10.1126/science.1902591. PMID 1902591. 
  8. ^ a b Sadir R, Forest E, Lortat-Jacob H. (May 1998). "The heparan sulfate binding sequence of interferon-gamma increased the on rate of the interferon-gamma-interferon-gamma receptor complex formation". J. Biol. Chem. 273 (18): 10919–10925. doi:10.1074/jbc.273.18.10919. PMID 9556569. 
  9. ^ Vanhaverbeke C, Simorre JP, et al. (November 2004). "NMR characterization of the interaction between the C-terminal domain of interferon-gamma and heparin-derived oligosaccharides". Biochem. J. 384 (Pt 1): 93–9. doi:10.1042/BJ20040757. PMC 1134092. PMID 15270718. 
  10. ^ a b Lortat-Jacob H, Grimaud JA (March 1991). "Interferon-gamma binds to heparan sulfate by a cluster of amino acids located in the C-terminal part of the molecule". FEBS Lett. 280 (1): 152–154. doi:10.1016/0014-5793(91)80225-R. PMID 1901275. 
  11. ^ Schroder K, Hertzog PJ, Ravasi T, Hume DA (February 2004). "Interferon-gamma: an overview of signals, mechanisms and functions". J. Leukoc. Biol. 75 (2): 163–89. doi:10.1189/jlb.0603252. PMID 14525967. 
  12. ^ Ashkar AA, Di Santo JP, Croy BA (July 2000). "Interferon gamma contributes to initiation of uterine vascular modification, decidual integrity, and uterine natural killer cell maturation during normal murine pregnancy". J. Exp. Med. 192 (2): 259–70. doi:10.1084/jem.192.2.259. PMC 2193246. PMID 10899912. 
  13. ^ Todd PA, Goa KL (January 1992). "Interferon gamma-1b. A review of its pharmacology and therapeutic potential in chronic granulomatous disease". Drugs 43 (1): 111–22. PMID 1372855. 
  14. ^ Key LL, Ries WL, Rodriguiz RM, Hatcher HC (July 1992). "Recombinant human interferon gamma therapy for osteopetrosis". J. Pediatr. 121 (1): 119–24. doi:10.1016/S0022-3476(05)82557-0. PMID 1320672. 
  15. ^ Interferon gamma upregulates frataxin and corrects the functional deficits in a Friedreich ataxia model
  16. ^ Thiel DJ, le Du MH, Walter RL, D'Arcy A, Chène C, Fountoulakis M, Garotta G, Winkler FK, Ealick SE (September 2000). "Observation of an unexpected third receptor molecule in the crystal structure of human interferon-gamma receptor complex". Structure 8 (9): 927–36. doi:10.1016/S0969-2126(00)00184-2. PMID 10986460. 
  17. ^ Kotenko SV, Izotova LS, Pollack BP, Mariano TM, Donnelly RJ, Muthukumaran G, Cook JR, Garotta G, Silvennoinen O, Ihle JN (September 1995). "Interaction between the components of the interferon gamma receptor complex". J. Biol. Chem. 270 (36): 20915–21. doi:10.1074/jbc.270.36.20915. PMID 7673114. 
  18. ^ Ben-Asouli, Y; Banai Y, Pel-Or Y, Shir A, Kaempfer R (2002). "Human interferon-gamma mRNA autoregulates its translation through a pseudoknot that activates the interferon-inducible protein kinase PKR". Cell 108 (2): 221–232. doi:10.1016/S0092-8674(02)00616-5. PMID 11832212. 
  19. ^ Asirvatham AJ, Gregorie CJ, Hu Z, Magner WJ, Tomasi TB (2008). "MicroRNA targets in immune genes and the Dicer/Argonaute and ARE machinery components.". Mol Immunol 45 (7): 1995–2006. doi:10.1016/j.molimm.2007.10.035. PMC 2678893. PMID 18061676. 

[edit] Further reading

  • Hall, Stephen K. (1997). A commotion in the blood: life, death, and the immune system. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 0-8050-5841-9. 
  • Ikeda H, Old LJ, Schreiber RD (2002). "The roles of IFN gamma in protection against tumor development and cancer immunoediting.". Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 13 (2): 95–109. doi:10.1016/S1359-6101(01)00038-7. PMID 11900986. 
  • Chesler DA, Reiss CS (2003). "The role of IFN-gamma in immune responses to viral infections of the central nervous system.". Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 13 (6): 441–54. doi:10.1016/S1359-6101(02)00044-8. PMID 12401479. 
  • Dessein A, Kouriba B, Eboumbou C, et al. (2005). "Interleukin-13 in the skin and interferon-gamma in the liver are key players in immune protection in human schistosomiasis.". Immunol. Rev. 201: 180–90. doi:10.1111/j.0105-2896.2004.00195.x. PMID 15361241. 
  • Joseph AM, Kumar M, Mitra D (2005). "Nef: "necessary and enforcing factor" in HIV infection.". Curr. HIV Res. 3 (1): 87–94. doi:10.2174/1570162052773013. PMID 15638726. 
  • Copeland KF (2006). "Modulation of HIV-1 transcription by cytokines and chemokines.". Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry 5 (12): 1093–101. doi:10.2174/138955705774933383. PMID 16375755. 
  • Chiba H, Kojima T, Osanai M, Sawada N (2006). "The significance of interferon-gamma-triggered internalization of tight-junction proteins in inflammatory bowel disease.". Sci. STKE 2006 (316): pe1. doi:10.1126/stke.3162006pe1. PMID 16391178. 
  • Tellides G, Pober JS (2007). "Interferon-gamma axis in graft arteriosclerosis.". Circ. Res. 100 (5): 622–32. doi:10.1161/01.RES.0000258861.72279.29. PMID 17363708. 
DNA virus antivirals (primarily J05, also S01AD and D06BB)
Baltimore I
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Other
Hepatitis B (VII)
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This article incorporates text from the United States National Library of Medicine, which is in the public domain.

This page is based on a Wikipedia article. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

This tab holds the annotation information that is stored in the Pfam database. As we move to using Wikipedia as our main source of annotation, the contents of this tab will be gradually replaced by the Wikipedia tab.

Interferon gamma Provide feedback

No Pfam abstract.

External database links

HOMSTRAD: IFN-gamma
PANDIT: PF00714
Pseudofam: PF00714
SCOP: 1rfb
SYSTERS: IFN-gamma

This tab holds annotation information from the InterPro database.

InterPro entry IPR002069

Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) is produced by lymphocytes activated by specific antigens or mitogens. IFN-gamma shows antiviral activity and has important immunoregulatory functions. It is a potent activator of microphages and had antiproliferative effects on transformed cells. It can potentiate the antiviral and antitumor effects of the type I interferons.

The crystal structures of a number IFN-gamma proteins have been solved, including bovine interferon-gamma at 2.0-A [PUBMED:10666622] and human IFN-gamma at 2.9-A [PUBMED:10860730].

Gene Ontology

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Cellular component extracellular region (GO:0005576)
Molecular function interferon-gamma receptor binding (GO:0005133)
Biological process immune response (GO:0006955)

Domain organisation

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Pfam Clan

This family is a member of clan 4H_Cytokine (CL0053), which contains the following 22 members:

CNTF EPO_TPO Flt3_lig GM_CSF Hormone_1 IFN-gamma IL10 IL11 IL12 IL13 IL2 IL22 IL3 IL34 IL4 IL5 IL6 Interferon Leptin LIF_OSM PRF SCF

Alignments

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  Seed
(9)		 Full
(229)		 Representative proteomes NCBI
(233)		 Meta
(0)
RP15
(1)		 RP35
(2)		 RP55
(7)		 RP75
(27)
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Curation and family details

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Seed source: Pfam-B_615 (release 2.1)
Previous IDs: none
Type: Domain
Author: Bateman A
Number in seed: 9
Number in full: 229
Average length of the domain: 123.10 aa
Average identity of full alignment: 50 %
Average coverage of the sequence by the domain: 85.86 %

HMM information View help on HMM parameters

HMM build commands:
build method: hmmbuild -o /dev/null HMM SEED
search method: hmmsearch -Z 23193494 -E 1000 --cpu 4 HMM pfamseq
Model details:
Parameter Sequence Domain
Gathering cut-off 20.3 20.3
Trusted cut-off 20.6 26.3
Noise cut-off 20.2 20.2
Model length: 138
Family (HMM) version: 12
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Species distribution

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Interactions

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IFN-gamma

Structures

For those sequences which have a structure in the Protein DataBank, we use the mapping between UniProt, PDB and Pfam coordinate systems from the PDBe group, to allow us to map Pfam domains onto UniProt sequences and three-dimensional protein structures. The table below shows the structures on which the IFN-gamma domain has been found. There are 13 instances of this domain found in the PDB. Note that there may be multiple copies of the domain in a single PDB structure, since many structures contain multiple copies of the same protein seqence.

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