IFNA17

Interferon alpha-17 (IFN-α17, gene IFNA17, historically designated IFN-αI) is a human type I interferon subtype encoded in the interferon gene cluster on chromosome 9p22. Its mature protein comprises 165 amino acids and signals through the common IFNAR1/IFNAR2-JAK/STAT pathway to establish an antiviral state and modulate immune responses. IFNA17 holds a distinctive place in interferon biology research because the original recombinant human IFN-αA/D (also known as universal interferon), one of the earliest and most widely used research interferons in virology laboratories, is a synthetic hybrid between the IFN-α2 (IFNA2) and IFNA17 sequences. This hybrid retains receptor-binding and antiviral activity across species barriers, including on murine and bovine cells where human IFN-α2 is largely inactive, enabling extensive cross-species experimentation. IFNA17 itself is expressed by virus-stimulated leukocytes and shows antiviral, antiproliferative and NK-activating properties typical of the family, with subtype-specific potency differences attributable to its particular receptor-binding surface.