Our studies show that IFN-lambda sustains the activation of the signal transducers and activators of transcription: STAT1 and STAT2 for longer than 8 hours. This is a striking difference from the activation profile of these transcription factors when activated by type I IFNs. Interestingly the kinetics of gene activation between type I and type III IFNs are not the same. Rather, type I IFNs induce gene transcription earlier while IFN-lambda mediated gene transcription is not only delayed but sustained longer. In addition, IFN-lambda is better than IFN-alpha in inducing an antiproliferative effect on tumor cells. These findings highlight the potential therapeutic use of IFN-lambda in the treatment of cancer. Our goal is to test the antitumor and antimetastatic effects of this cytokine in mouse tumor models.
| Maher, Stephen G; Sheikh, Faruk; Scarzello, Anthony J et al. (2008) IFN-alpha and IFN-lambda differ in their antiproliferative effects and duration of JAK/STAT signaling activity. Cancer Biol Ther 7:nihpa47781 |
| Maher, Stephen G; Sheikh, Faruk; Scarzello, Anthony J et al. (2008) IFNalpha and IFNlambda differ in their antiproliferative effects and duration of JAK/STAT signaling activity. Cancer Biol Ther 7:1109-15 |
| Maher, S G; Romero-Weaver, A L; Scarzello, A J et al. (2007) Interferon: cellular executioner or white knight? Curr Med Chem 14:1279-89 |
