IFNG

Interferon gamma (IFNG), also called IFG or IFI, is a soluble cytokine that is a member of the type II interferon class. The biological activity of IFNG is usually related to cytostatic/cytotoxic and antitumor mechanisms during the cell-mediated adaptive immune response. Interferons (IFNs) are a class of pleiotropic cytokines which serve a crucial role in intercellular communication during innate and acquired immune responses and host defense against viral and bacterial infections. There are two major categories of IFNs in mammals: type I and type II, and they are quite unlike substantially with respect to the relative potencies of their immunomodulatory and cell-surface molecular modification features. The two main members of type I IFNs (IFN-α and IFN-β) are widely expressed and signal via the type I receptor.
IFNG is the only member of the type II IFN and is more restrictively expressed. Unlike the type I IFNs, IFNG processes its own receptor, comprising of IFNγR1 and IFNγR2 subunits, giving it the special function. Importantly, the biologically active form of IFN-γ is an antiparallel dimer which interacts with the extracellular domain of the receptor subunit IFNγR1. Besides, binding of the ligand engages the IFNγR2 subunit, which is responsible for the intracellular transmission of the signal. In addition, the most important function of IFN-γ is the upregulation of the main histocompatibility (MHC) class I molecules to help in the priming and presentation of antigens in the professional antigen presenting cells.
Gene ID: 3458
UniProt ID: P01579