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Reference.org
Interferon type I
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<p>The type-I interferons (IFN) are <a href="/facts/Cytokine/SdWpWABH">cytokines</a> which play essential roles in <a href="/facts/Inflammation/Ura86MIy">inflammation</a>, <a href="/facts/Immunoregulation/HRCTf1pb">immunoregulation</a>, tumor cells recognition, and <a href="/facts/T_cell/5z6PQ9UN">T-cell</a> responses. In the human genome, a cluster of thirteen functional IFN genes is located at the 9p21.3 cytoband over approximately 400 kb including coding genes for IFNα (<i>IFNA1, IFNA2, IFNA4, IFNA5, IFNA6, IFNA7, IFNA8, IFNA10, IFNA13, IFNA14, IFNA16, IFNA17</i> and <i>IFNA21</i>), IFNω (<i>IFNW1</i>), IFNɛ (<i>IFNE</i>), IFNк (<i>IFNK</i>) and IFNβ (<i>IFNB1</i>), plus 11 IFN pseudogenes. </p><p>Interferons bind to <a href="/facts/Interferon_receptor/v8LtRzc0">interferon receptors</a>. All type I IFNs bind to a specific cell surface receptor complex known as the IFN-α receptor (<a href="/facts/Interferon-alpha%2fbeta_receptor/2M1pfk0q">IFNAR</a>) that consists of <a href="/facts/IFNAR1/8dmU5fmu">IFNAR1</a> and <a href="/facts/IFNAR2/XItC4RWt">IFNAR2</a> chains. </p><p>Type I IFNs are found in all mammals, and homologous (similar) molecules have been found in birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish species. </p>