Paper II
2022 October (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) · 40 marks · 120 min

Question

Gamma interferon.

Q62 marksShort Notes

Answer

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ, “immune/type II interferon”) is a cytokine produced mainly by activated T lymphocytes (Th1 cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells) and NK cells, distinct from the type I interferons (IFN-α/β) produced by virtually all cells in direct response to viral infection.

Key functions:

  • Macrophage activation — the single most important function, markedly enhancing microbicidal capacity (phagocytosis, respiratory burst, nitric oxide production), central to defence against intracellular pathogens, particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
  • Upregulation of MHC expression — increases MHC class I and (especially) class II expression, enhancing antigen presentation.
  • Promotion of Th1 differentiation — drives naive CD4+ T cells toward the Th1 phenotype, reinforcing cell-mediated immunity.
  • Granuloma formation/maintenance — essential for containing M. tuberculosis infection; underlies the risk of TB reactivation with anti-TNF or similar therapies.

Clinical/laboratory relevance: the basis of Interferon-Gamma Release Assays (IGRAs), measuring IFN-γ released by sensitized T cells on exposure to M. tuberculosis-specific antigens — used for diagnosing latent TB infection, with better specificity than the tuberculin skin test since unaffected by BCG vaccination.

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