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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Dissecting Innate Immune Signaling in Viral Evasion of Cytokine Production
Published on: March 2, 2014
Production of protective gamma interferon by natural killer cells during early mouse hepatitis virus infection
Gaëtan Thirion1, Jean-Paul Coutelier1
1Unit of Experimental Medicine, Christian de Duve Institute of Cellular Pathology, Université Catholique de Louvain, B-1200 Bruxelles, Belgium.
Abstract:
Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) plays a major role in the protection against lethal infection with mouse hepatitis virus A59. IFN-gamma production reaches a maximum level 2 days after viral inoculation, especially in liver immune cells. Among these cells, natural killer cells are the major producers of this cytokine. Transfer experiments indicated that the protective role of IFN-gamma is mediated through a direct effect on cells targeted by the virus rather than through indirect activation of T lymphocytes.
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