Role of membrane receptors in the biological effects of interferon.

The model of IFN receptor system which we initially proposed in 1973 is now better documented. The receptor system seems to consist of an IFN species specific glycoprotein, which could be the high affinity receptor (30) to which IFN has to bind in order to act. The glycoprotein is thus the activator site. Furthermore, IFN can bind to gangliosides in a non-specific manner. Cooperation between these membrane elements requires the free mobility of the membrane constituents in the plane of the membrane and the integrity of the cytoskeleton. Decay of these constituents during some virus-induced or malignant transformation processes could result in a defect in the synthesis of one of these constituents, causing in parallel a loss of IFN sensitivity. Sodium butyrate, which restores the cytoskeleton, enhances simultaneously the response to IFN. The modulatory effect of IFN on the cell membrane is thus a major step in the regulatory action of IFN on the different phenotypic expressions of the cell. This property of IFN could be one of its principal physiological roles.