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Knockouts of Interferons, Interferon Receptors and Interferon Signaling Components

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Cytokine Knockouts

Part of the book series: Contemporary Immunology ((CONTIM))

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Abstract

The interferons are arguably the oldest known cytokines (1) For many years after their original discovery, the only recognized biological function of interferons was the inhibition of virus replication. Only much later did it become apparent that, as is characteristic of cytokines in general, interferons have many pleiotropic activities, including modulating effects on the rate of cell growth and a variety of actions on functions of the immune system (reviewed in refs. 2 and 3). The generation of knockout mice with null mutations in the interferon genes or in the genes encoding interferon receptors or signaling components essential for interferon actions has provided the means to define better the biological functions of interferons in the intact organism. Specifically, the availability of these knockout mice has made it possible to determine the importance of the interferons in the resistance to infections and in some specific functions of the immune system. These investigations, to be briefly reviewed in this chapter, led to some unexpected findings.

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Authors
  1. Jan Vilček
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  2. Michel Aguet
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  3. Luiz F. L. Reis
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA

    Scott K. Durum  & Kathrin Muegge  & 

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Vilček, J., Aguet, M., Reis, L.F.L. (1998). Knockouts of Interferons, Interferon Receptors and Interferon Signaling Components. In: Durum, S.K., Muegge, K. (eds) Cytokine Knockouts. Contemporary Immunology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2753-1_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-2753-1_13

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-2755-5

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