When a cell is infected, interferons are released to signal to nearby cells that a virus is in the area. Those cells are able to protect themselves by producing enzymes that degrade mRNA, and preventing protein synthesis, to slow down viral replication.
Antiviral Activities of Different Interferon Types and Subtypes
Interferons
Interferons: INF-α, INF-β and INF-γ (FL-Immuno/07)
Viruses, bacteria, parasites, tumors and cancer.
According to this video:
"Interferons are a large family of secretory proteins. They are a type of cytokines, and they are cell-signaling molecules within our immune system. They're produced by human body systems, in response to invasion by several pathogens."
Our cells have antiviral proteins in them, but they are not actually activated, until cells are signaled by interferon, to activate them. They can degrade viral nucleic acid, and also inhibit viral protein synthesis. The cells that were already infected, and producing interferons, are destroyed by Natural Killer cells and apoptosis.
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