Putting the brakes on the anti-viral response: negative regulators of type I interferon (IFN) production

Type I IFNs (IFN alpha/beta) are essential anti-viral cytokines produced in response to the detection of viral components by host pattern recognition receptors. IFN alpha/beta production is transient, and aberrant activation can be hazardous to the host. In this article, we review our current understanding of host negative regulatory mechanisms that control IFN alpha/beta production. (C) 2011 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.