Interferon LAMBDA-3: Immune Modulator

Interferon Lambdas (IFNLs) is a type III IFN which induces expression of Interferon Stimulated Genes (ISGs). These ISGs in turn participate in antiviral and other interferon related activities. IFNLs are found to have immune modulation activities in addition to antiviral activities. Immune modulation activities are advantageous for the host system for better protection against invading pathogens. In the present study, the vector construct of bovine Interferon lambda-3 (IFN-L3) was analyzed for its immune modulation activities. The IFNL3 gene of 585bp cloned in pcDNA3.1+ vector (pcDNA-IFNL3) was analyzed for its expression in baby hamster kidney (BHK) cell line by fluorescence microscopy. Bovine IFNL3 gene cloned in pcDNA3.1+ vector with downstream Green fluorescent protein (GFP) tag found to show the green fluorescence. This construct was further tested for its immune modulation activities in mice. At 7th day the Spleenocytes were collected from the mice and analyzed for activation of B and T lymphocytes by Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) using specific CD markers. The results showed that IFN 3 could activate both B and T lymphocyte population in treated mice.