Transmission of IFN-induced activities by cell to cell communication.

Abstract

In conclusion, many of the activities of IFN are transmissible between cells and may involve more than one transfer mechanism. These mechanisms probably involve secondary messenger molecules which are shared with hormones and act at the transcriptional level. The transfer system seems to be a major amplification process for IFN action. It will be interesting in the future to determine the spectra of IFN activities which are transferable as well as the processes involved.