classification of interferons
Last reviewed 01/2018
Interferons are classified into two types according to sequence homologies.
Type I interferons include alpha and beta interferons. Type II interferon is gamma interferon.
alpha beta gamma --------------------------------------- gene location (chromosome) 9 9 12
gene structure no introns no introns introns
number of genes 20+ 1 1
primary source in vivo leukocytes fibroblasts lymphocytes
stimulus for antigen production viral infection presentation