JEM -- About the Cover (February 2002, 195, (4))

About the Cover

Cover Figure

The Journal of Experimental Medicine 195 4 Rapid expression of type I interferon (IFN-{alpha}a/{beta}b) is the key innate immune response to many viral infections. Type I IFN-producing cells in the marginal zone of the spleen were stained with polyclonal or monoclonal antibody directed against type I IFN within hours after viral infection. Unlike fibroblasts in cell culture, type I IFN-producing cells in the mouse are able to produce IFN-αa independent of type I IFN receptor (IFNAR) feedback signaling. In both wild-type and IFNAR^-^/^- mice the subset of CD11c⁺Gr-1⁺ dendritic cells has been shown to be a major producer of type I IFNs after viral infection in vivo. See related article by Barchet et al., pp. 507-516
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