Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany.
Institute for the Research on HIV and AIDS-Associated Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany.
Viruses. 2024 Feb 27;16(3):364. doi: 10.3390/v16030364.
Type I interferons (IFN), immediately triggered following most viral infections, play a pivotal role in direct antiviral immunity and act as a bridge between innate and adaptive immune responses. However, numerous viruses have evolved evasion strategies against IFN responses, prompting the exploration of therapeutic alternatives for viral infections. Within the type I IFN family, 12 IFNα subtypes exist, all binding to the same receptor but displaying significant variations in their biological activities. Currently, clinical treatments for chronic virus infections predominantly rely on a single IFNα subtype (IFNα2a/b). However, the efficacy of this therapeutic treatment is relatively limited, particularly in the context of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Recent investigations have delved into alternative IFNα subtypes, identifying certain subtypes as highly potent, and their antiviral and immunomodulatory properties have been extensively characterized. This review consolidates recent findings on the roles of individual IFNα subtypes during HIV and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) infections. It encompasses their induction in the context of HIV/SIV infection, their antiretroviral activity, and the diverse regulation of the immune response against HIV by distinct IFNα subtypes. These insights may pave the way for innovative strategies in HIV cure or functional cure studies.
I 型干扰素（IFN）在大多数病毒感染后立即被触发，在直接抗病毒免疫中发挥关键作用，并充当先天免疫和适应性免疫反应之间的桥梁。然而，许多病毒已经进化出了针对 IFN 反应的逃避策略，促使人们探索病毒感染的治疗替代方案。在 I 型 IFN 家族中，存在 12 种 IFNα 亚型，它们都与相同的受体结合，但在生物学活性上存在显著差异。目前，慢性病毒感染的临床治疗主要依赖于单一的 IFNα 亚型（IFNα2a/b）。然而，这种治疗方法的疗效相对有限，特别是在人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）感染的情况下。最近的研究深入探讨了替代 IFNα 亚型，发现某些亚型具有高度效力，并且它们的抗病毒和免疫调节特性已经得到了广泛的研究。这篇综述总结了最近关于 HIV 和猴免疫缺陷病毒（SIV）感染期间个体 IFNα 亚型作用的研究发现。它涵盖了它们在 HIV/SIV 感染背景下的诱导、它们的抗逆转录病毒活性以及不同 IFNα 亚型对 HIV 免疫反应的多样化调节。这些见解可能为 HIV 治愈或功能性治愈研究中的创新策略铺平道路。
