IL-29 and IFNα Differ in Their Ability to Modulate IL-12 Production by TLR-activated Human Macrophages and Exhibit Differential Regulation of the IFNγ Receptor Expression

The interferon-λ (IFNλ) family of cytokines, consisting of interleukin-28A (IFNλ2), IL-28B (IFNλ3), and IL-29 (IFNλ1), have been extensively studied for their antiviral activities. However, little is known about the effect of IFNλ on antigen-presenting cells. In the present study, we show for the first time that IL-29 can increase Toll-like receptor (TLR)-induced IL-12p40 production by human monocyte-derived macrophages. In contrast, IL-29 did not affect monocytes or monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) because of restricted IL-28 receptor α chain expression by macrophages. Furthermore, IL-29-treated macrophages were more responsive to IFNγ, because IL-29 enhanced IFNγ-induced IL-12p40 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production by macrophages on R848 stimulation. However, IFNα suppressed IFNγ-induced IL-12p40 and tumor necrosis factor TNF production by human macrophages. The differential effects of IL-29 and IFNα on the responsiveness of macrophages to IFNγ could not be explained by an effect on TLR7 or TLR8 mRNA expression or by altered IL-10 signaling. However, we demonstrated that IL-29 up-regulated, whereas IFNα down-regulated, the surface expression of the IFNγ receptor 1 chain on macrophages, thereby resulting in differential responsiveness of TLR-challenged macrophages to IFNγ. Our findings on the differences between IFNα and IL-29 in modulating TLR-induced cytokine production by macrophages may contribute to understanding the role of IFNs in regulating immunity to pathogens.