A Null Mutation in the Gene Encoding a Type I Interferon Receptor Component Eliminates Antiproliferative and Antiviral Responses to Interferons α and β and Alters Macrophage responses

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1995-11, Vol.92 (24), p.11284-11288
• Main Authors: Hwang, Seung Y., Hertzog, Paul J., Holland, Kerry A., Sumarsono, Sony H., Tymms, Martin J., Hamilton, John A., Whitty, Genevieve, Bertoncello, Ivan, Kola, Ismail
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antivirals; Bone Marrow Cells; Cell Division; Cell growth; Cell lines; Genes; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - cytology; Infections; Interferon Type I - physiology; L cells; Macrophage Activation; Macrophages; Macrophages - physiology; Membrane Proteins; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta; Receptors; Receptors, Interferon - physiology; Signal Transduction; Viral infections; Viral Interference; Virus Diseases - immunology; Viruses
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.92.24.11284

To examine the in vivo role(s) of type I interferons (IFNs) and to determine the role of a component of the type I IFN receptor (IFNAR1) in mediating responses to these IFNs, we generated mice with a null mutation (-/-) in the IFNAR1 gene. Despite compelling evidence for modulation of cell proliferation and differentiation by type I IFNs, there were no gross signs of abnormal fetal development or morphological changes in adult IFNAR1 -/- mice. However, abnormalities of hemopoietic cells were detected in IFNAR1 -/- mice. Elevated levels of myeloid lineage cells were detected in peripheral blood and bone marrow by staining with Mac-1 and Gr-1 antibodies. Furthermore, bone marrow macrophages from IFNAR1 -/- mice showed abnormal responses to colony-stimulating factor 1 and lipopolysaccharide. IFNAR1 -/- mice were highly susceptible to viral infection: viral titers were undetected 24 hr after infection of IFNAR1 +/+ mice but were extremely high in organs of IFNAR1 -/- mice, demonstrating that the type I IFN system is a major acute antiviral defence. In cell lines derived from IFNAR1 -/- mice, there was no signaling in response to IFN-α or -β as measured by induction of 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase, antiviral, or antiproliferative responses. Importantly, these studies demonstrate that type I IFNs function in the development and responses of myeloid lineage cells, particularly macrophages, and that the IFNAR1 receptor component is essential for antiproliferative and antiviral responses to IFN-α and -β.