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Abstract
Type I interferons (IFN-I) are rapidly induced following infection and play a key
role in nonspecific inhibition of virus replication. Here we have investigated the
effects of IFN-I on the generation of antigen-specific antibody responses. The data
show that IFN-I potently enhance the primary antibody response to a soluble protein,
stimulating the production of all subclasses of IgG, and induce long-lived antibody
production and immunological memory. In addition, endogenous production of IFN-I was
shown to be essential for the adjuvant activity of CFA. Finally, IFN-I enhanced the
antibody response and induced isotype switching when dendritic cells were the only
cell type responding to IFN-I. The data reveal the potent adjuvant activity of IFN-I
and their important role in linking innate and adaptive immunity.