This gene encodes a soluble cytokine that is a member of the type II interferon class. The encoded protein is secreted by cells of both the innate and adaptive immune systems. The active protein is a homodimer that binds to the interferon gamma receptor which triggers a cellular response to viral and microbial infections. Mice deficient in this gene have increased susceptibility to viral, bacterial and parasitic infections and to several autoimmune diseases. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2015]

IFNG: Produced by lymphocytes activated by specific antigens or mitogens. IFN-gamma, in addition to having antiviral activity, has important immunoregulatory functions. It is a potent activator of macrophages, it has antiproliferative effects on transformed cells and it can potentiate the antiviral and antitumor effects of the type I interferons. Homodimer. Released primarily from activated T lymphocytes. Belongs to the type II (or gamma) interferon family.

Protein type: Cytokine; Secreted; Secreted, signal peptide; Membrane protein, integral

Cellular Component: external side of plasma membrane; extracellular region; extracellular space; intracellular

Molecular Function: cytokine activity; interferon-gamma receptor binding; protein binding

Biological Process: adaptive immune response; antigen processing and presentation; apoptosis; CD8-positive, alpha-beta T cell differentiation during immune response; cell cycle arrest; defense response to bacterium; defense response to protozoan; defense response to virus; humoral immune response; immune response; inflammatory cell apoptosis; negative regulation of cell proliferation; negative regulation of epithelial cell differentiation; negative regulation of interleukin-17 production; negative regulation of myelination; negative regulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation; negative regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter; neutrophil apoptosis; neutrophil chemotaxis; positive regulation of autophagy; positive regulation of CD4-positive, CD25-positive, alpha-beta regulatory T cell differentiation during immune response; positive regulation of cell adhesion; positive regulation of cell proliferation; positive regulation of chemokine biosynthetic process; positive regulation of interleukin-1 beta secretion; positive regulation of interleukin-12 biosynthetic process; positive regulation of interleukin-12 production; positive regulation of interleukin-23 production; positive regulation of interleukin-6 biosynthetic process; positive regulation of isotype switching to IgG isotypes; positive regulation of killing of cells of another organism; positive regulation of membrane protein ectodomain proteolysis; positive regulation of MHC class II biosynthetic process; positive regulation of neuron differentiation; positive regulation of nitric oxide biosynthetic process; positive regulation of osteoclast differentiation; positive regulation of peptidyl-serine phosphorylation of STAT protein; positive regulation of synaptic transmission, cholinergic; positive regulation of T cell proliferation; positive regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter; positive regulation of transcription, DNA-dependent; positive regulation of tumor necrosis factor production; positive regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat1 protein; protein import into nucleus, translocation; regulation of growth; regulation of immune response; regulation of insulin secretion; regulation of the force of heart contraction; regulation of transcription, DNA-dependent; response to virus; sensory perception of mechanical stimulus; T cell receptor signaling pathway; unfolded protein response