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BioLegend consistently releases new recombinant proteins for both in vivo and in vitro studies. Of the newest recombinants, we have focused on Interferon Alpha (IFN-α), which is a type I IFN that has potent anti-viral activity. IFN-α can prime a variety of cells that include Natural Killer (NK cells) and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. As reviewed by Kahan and Zajac (PubMed), the interplay between IFN-α and these cell types has shown that NK cells can inhibit anti-viral responses from CD8+ T cells. |
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Adapted from Kahan, S.M. and Zajac, A.J. 2014. Immunity. 40:861. PubMed |
IFN-α and other type I IFNs help regulate the expression of complexes such as MHC I and CD94-NKG2A in T cells. The treatment of T cells with IFN-α allows them to upregulate these markers, which inhibit NK cell activation. This protective effect prevents the NK cells from targeting activated T cells for destruction, preserving an anti-viral response. Without the upregulation of these inhibitory ligands, T cells can be exposed to perforin-mediated killing by the NK cells. |
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