interferon kappa; IFN-kappa (IFNK)

Function

• regulation of immune cell function
• cytokine that imparts cellular protection against viral infection in a species-specific manner
• activates the interferon-stimulated response element signaling
• modulates cytokine release from monocytes & dendritic cells
• binds heparin

Structure

belongs to the alpha/beta interferon family

Compartment

secreted

Expression

• expressed in keratinocytes, monocytes, resting dendritic cells
• induction by viral infection, dsRNA, IFN-gamma, IFN-beta

More general terms

• interferon

Database

• Entrez gene: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=gene&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Graphics&list_uids=56832
• Kegg: http://www.genome.jp/dbget-bin/www_bget?hsa:56832
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9P0W0.html