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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes
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Published on: March 24, 2015

Interferon-tau: current applications and potential in antiviral therapy

Thomas W Chon1, Sandra Bixler

  • 1Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA. Thomas.Chon@Gmail.com

Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research : the Official Journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research
|July 15, 2010
PubMed

Interferon-tau (IFN-tau) was initially identified as an ovine pregnancy protein. Produced by the trophoblast, it is important in preventing degradation of the corpus luteum and has been used as an early marker for ovine pregnancy. As a member of the family of type I interferons, IFN-tau has demonstrated promising antiviral activity against human viral infections in vitro. Additionally, it displays high species cross-reactivity despite its absence in humans. To date, IFN-tau has shown efficacy in reducing replication of human immunodeficiency virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, and human papillomavirus. While IFN-tau shares similar antiviral activity to IFN-alpha, the current interferon of choice for treatment of viral infections, it lacks the associated toxicity. This may make IFN-tau an attractive alternative to IFN-alpha for the treatment of viral infections.

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