What is the Role of Interferons at the Cellular Level?
At the cellular level, interferons play a pivotal role in the inhibition of viral replication. They induce the expression of various antiviral proteins that can degrade viral RNA, inhibit viral protein synthesis, and prevent new viral particles from assembling. Moreover, interferons enhance the antigen presentation capability of dendritic cells and macrophages by upregulating the expression of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules, thus facilitating the recognition and elimination of infected cells by cytotoxic T cells.
