Ubiquitination-mediated regulation of interferon responses

Growth Factors. 2012 Jun;30(3):141-8. doi: 10.3109/08977194.2012.669382. Epub 2012 Mar 7.

Abstract

Interferon cytokine family members shape the immune response to protect the host from both pathologic infections and tumorigenesis. To mediate their physiologic function, interferons evoke a robust and complex signal transduction pathway that leads to the induction of interferon-stimulated genes with both proinflammatory and antiviral functions. Numerous mechanisms exist to tightly regulate the extent and duration of these cellular responses. Among such mechanisms, the post-translational conjugation of ubiquitin polypeptides to protein mediators of interferon signaling has emerged as a crucially important mode of control. In this mini-review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of these ubiquitin-mediated mechanisms, their exploitation by invading viruses, and their possible utilization for medical intervention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Interferons / immunology
  • Interferons / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Signal Transduction* / physiology
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism
  • Ubiquitination
  • Viruses / immunology
  • Viruses / metabolism

Substances

  • Ubiquitin
  • Interferons
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases