Interferon-Lambda: A Potent Regulator of Intestinal Viral Infections

Lee, Sanghyun; Baldridge, Megan T.

A limited number of studies have explored the role of IFN-λ in regulation of other enteric viruses. Infection of human enteroids by echovirus 11, but not coxsackievirus B, was shown to induce expression of antiviral ISGs (71) , and enterovirus 71 potently induces type I and III IFNs in a human IEC line (72) . However, further studies are needed to determine the specific role of type III IFNs in control of enteroviruses. Canine parvovirus, which causes gastrointestinal disease in dogs, is more sensitive to IFN-λ than a type I IFN in vitro (73) , but it is unknown whether this applies to human parvoviruses. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus is an enteropathogenic coronavirus that is sensitive to both type I and III IFN treatment in a porcine IEC line (74) . Finally, avian influenza virus and Newcastle disease virus induce much more robust type III than type I IFN in a primary chicken IEC culture model, suggesting a possible role for IFN-λ in prevention of intestinal infection by these viruses normally associated with respiratory infections (75) . These initial findings point to the potential for a broad role for IFN-λ in control of many different enteric viruses, but additional studies are clearly needed to determine the breadth and depth of IFN-λ-mediated regulation of viral infection in the intestine.