What is IFN gamma?
Interferon gamma (IFNg or simply IFNg) is a Th1-type, pro-inflammatory cytokine that is actively involved in almost all phases of immune and inflammatory responses, including macrophage activation, antibacterial immunity, antigen presentation, activation of the innate immune system, lymphocyte-endothelium interactions, Th1/Th2 balance, and cellular proliferation and apoptosis. IFN gamma is primarily secreted by T cells and natural killer cells (ref 1). Because interferon gamma is involved in so many aspects of the immune response; it has been identified as a potential therapeutic agent, target, and/or marker for a variety of autoimmune and infectious diseases involving the immune system. IFN gamma has been identified as a useful adjuvant therapy in patients with pulmonary atypical Mycobacteriosis (ref 2). Reduced IFN gamma levels were detected in the nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) from infants with severe respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) bronchiolitis (ref 3). Suppression of airway T
