Unraveling the molecular mechanism governing the tissue specific expression of IFN?R1

The functional receptor for type III interferons (IFNs) is a heterodimer of IFNLR1 and IL10R2. IFNLR1 is expressed in a highly tissue specific manner, with epithelial and liver tissue as the prime expressing tissues in humans. However, knowledge about the molecular pathways responsible for regulating the expression of IFNLR1 is yet unknown. In this study, various bioinformatics tools were used to predict the scores of signal peptides of IFN?R1 and IFN?R1, which was considered as an important difference in the expression of both receptors or participation in regulating the IFNLR1 gene. In silico study revealed that the signal peptide of IFN?R1 had more potential than the signal peptide of IFN?R1 but changing the signal peptide of wild type IFN?R1 with the signal peptide of IFN?R1 in wet lab had barely shown any differences. Selective expression of IFN?R1 was considered to be a plus point towards the targeted anti-viral activity of IFN?s but artificial control on its expression will surely make IFN?s a better drug with enhanced activity. The results of this study may help us in contributing some understanding towards the mechanisms involved in the selective expression of IFNLR1 and exceptionalities involved.