Interferon-alpha 2 (IFN alpha -2) is one of 14 subtypes within the IFN-alpha class of Type I Interferons [1]. The members of the IFN-alpha class, also known as alpha leukocyte interferons, encompass a group of distinct but closely related proteins which share approximately 80% amino acid (aa) sequence identity and have a similar globular structure composed of five alpha-helices [1, 3, 4]. IFN-alpha class members signal through a common cell surface receptor complex composed of IFN-alpha R2 and IFN-alpha R1 subunits [3]. As the first highly active IFN to be cloned and produced, IFN alpha -2 has become the prototypic IFN for academic and pharmaceutical research [2]. The mature extracellular domain (ECD) of mouse IFN alpha -2 shares 60% and 83% aa sequence identity with human and rat, respectively. Murine IFN-alpha 2 can eliminate cardiac viral load and protect cardiomyocytes from injury in animals infected with coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) [5]. IFN alpha -2 derived mutants with reduced IFNR2 binding inhibited HIV replication and mutants with more IFNAR1 binding potentiated antiviral activity [6].
Reference
[1]. Pestka, S. (2007) J Biol Chem. 282:20047.
[2]. Paul, F. et al. (2015) Gene. 567(2):132.
[3]. Oritani, K. et al. (2001). Cytokine & Growth Factor Reviews, 12:337.
[4]. Pesch, V. et al. (2004). Journal of Virology, 78:8219.
[5]. Wang, Y.X. et al. (2007) Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 293:H69.
[6]. Schlaepfer, E. et al. (2019) Am Soc for Microbiology 4:e00637.