Interferon tau

Interferon tau (IFNτ) is a type I interferon originally discovered as the pregnancy recognition signal in ruminants such as sheep and cattle. It is a single-chain polypeptide produced by the trophoblast during early pregnancy to prevent degradation of the corpus luteum and maintain progesterone production. IFNτ binds to type I interferon receptors shared with IFN-alpha and activates intracellular signaling pathways involving STAT1, STAT2, and Tyk2 leading to antiviral and immunomodulatory cytokine production including IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10. Unlike other type I interferons such as IFN-alpha or beta, it exhibits potent antiviral activity with markedly lower cytotoxicity. This makes it a promising candidate for treatment of viral infections like HIV and HPV as well as autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis and diabetes due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It has also shown potential in reducing obesity-related inflammation and cancer cell proliferation. Recombinant forms have been developed primarily from ovine sources for research into therapeutic applications beyond reproductive biology.

Other names

Recombinant Ovine Interferon TaurolFN-tauovine trophoblast protein-1 (oTP-1)TP-1TP1TP 1