Interferon-gamma as a regulator of squamous differentiation

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is a potent immunomodulatory molecule. Recent studies demonstrate that IFN-gamma can induce growth arrest and differentiation in epithelial cells. The signalling pathways controlling growth and differentiation in epithelial cells appears to be different to those regulating immune functions in non-epithelial cells and appear to impact on key cell cycle regulatory genes such as cdk1 and E2F1. In addition, studies with IFN-gamma have highlighted the complexity of the signalling pathways regulating the expression of differentiation markers in squamous differentiating epithelia. Given the actions of IFN-gamma upon epithelial cell growth and differentiation it should be considered a potential regulator of both immune and epithelial cell targets in various inflammatory pathologies such as psoriasis.