Mouse IFN lambda 3 (IL-28B) ELISpot

IL-28B, IL-28A, and IL-29 are three closely related IFN-lambda cytokines that can be induced by viral infection that induce signaling through the Jak/STAT pathway. IL-28B, and other IFN-lambda cytokines, are well established as having several antiviral and anti-cancer activities. IFN-lambda, restricts virus from spreading into the brain and plays a major role in chronic viral infections found in the gastrointestinal tract. IL-28B, like other IFN-lambda cytokines, modulates innate and adaptive immunity, autoimmunity, and tumor progression. Unlike type I IFNs, which are able to stimulate most cell types, IL-28B, along with the other IFN-lambda cytokines, stimulation appears to be limited to dendritic cells and some tumor cell lines. Due to the affect IL-28B has on the adaptive immune system, it has gained much interest as an immunotherapeutic agent for treatment of allergic asthma. The IL-28 cytokines control T cell responses in vivo through the modulation of lung CD11c (+) DC function in experimental allergic asthma animal models. IFN-lambda cytokines, including IL-28B, have been shown to interact with a heterodimeric, class II cytokine receptor that consists of the IL-10 receptor, beta (IL-10RB) and the IL-28 receptor, alpha (IL-28RA) subunits. The promiscuous IL-10RB subunit is also common to IFN-alpha/beta family members, but the IL-28RA subunit is specific for the IFN-lambda cytokines, IL-28B, IL-28A, and IL-29.