Cloning of a new cytokine that induces IFN-γ production by T cells

The mechanism underlying the differentiation of CD4+ T cells into functionally distinct subsets (Th1 and Th2) is incompletely understood, and hitherto unidentified cytokines may be required for the functional maturation of these cells. Here we report the cloning of a recently identified IFN-gamma-inducing factor (IGIF) that augments natural killer (NK) activity in spleen cells. The gene encodes a precursor protein of 192 amino acids and a mature...