IFN-lambda therapy: current status and future perspectives

• Published in: Drug discovery today 2016-01, Vol.21 (1), p.167-171
• Main Authors: Lasfar, Ahmed, Zloza, Andrew, Cohen-Solal, Karine A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Autoimmune Diseases - drug therapy; Humans; Immunity, Innate - drug effects; Interferons - pharmacology; Interferons - therapeutic use; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Virus Diseases - drug therapy
• ISSN: 1359-6446; 1878-5832
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2015.10.021

•Current IFN therapy, although commonly used in the clinic, is based on IFN-α and is highly questionable.•Introduction of IFN-λ would provide a new IFN with specific-cell targeting properties.•IFN-λ is an IFN weapon directed in the right location and an approach that will improve and revive IFN therapy. Interferon-lambda (IFN-λ), the most recently described type III IFN, plays a crucial part by acting on specific cell types, controlling viral infections and establishing robust innate immunity against cancer. In contrast to IFN-α or IFN-γ, IFN-λ has a restricted cell response pattern, which could make this new IFN a better choice for disease targeting and reducing adverse events. Although IFN-λ is considered to have pivotal roles in cancer, viral infections and autoimmune diseases, clinical trials have only been conducted for treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection. In this review, we discuss the current and the potential clinical applications of IFN-λ in the context of current IFN therapy.