ABSTRACT
I. INTRODUCTION Interferon-T (IFN-T) is a recently discovered IFN that possesses activities similar to those observed for the other type I IFNs, a and p; however, IFN-T functions in the absence of normally associated toxicity (1-5). In light of the recent success of IFN 0-lb treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), IFN-T has been examined for its ability to prevent the development of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of antigen-induced autoimmunity that has been widely studied to gain insight into MS (6). IFN-T has been shown to prevent the development and superantigen-induced exacerbations of EAE in the absence of toxicity (7). Sections of this chapter cover the background of IFN-T, an overview of IFNT structure-function studies, including its lack of toxicity as well as the development of IFN-T for use as an immunotherapy for EAE.
