ISG20

Interferon (IFN) is a family of cytokines, which are classified into type I interferons (IFN-a, IFN-β) and type I interferons (IFN-y). The former is mainly induced by virus infection and induces white blood cells and fibroblasts. The main cytokine produced by the cells is the congenital antiviral immunity of the early host of the virus infection; the latter is activated by a variety of stimulating factors to activate and secrete host T lymphocytes and natural killer cells (NK) and participate in the acquired immune response. Their common characteristic is an inducible expression and antiviral effect. The antiviral effect of interferon is achieved by transcriptionally activating the up-regulation of many interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). However, to date, only three products of ISCs have been considered to be involved in the antiviral response, namely, double-stranded RNA activated protein kinase (PKR) 2'5' oligoadenylate synthetase (2'5'). oligoadenylate synthetase, 2'5' OAS) / nuclease L system (RNase L System) and Mx protein. However, in recent years, research table ISC20 is a newly discovered interferon-stimulated gene whose protein product is an exonuclease. In vitro studies have shown that ISG20 protein can degrade single-stranded RNA and DNA, and mice that simultaneously knock out the above three genes are simultaneously knocked out. Expression of ISG20 in fibroblasts inhibits VSV infection of the cells, indicating that ISG20 is involved in mediating the antiviral effect of IFN.