HomeAboutRankingsData Sources
© 2026 GeneE
🧬
GeneE
50 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
ⓘGeneE is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
IFNG
interferon gamma
Chromosome 12 · 12q15
NCBI Gene: 3458Ensembl: ENSG00000111537.5HGNC: HGNC:5438UniProt: P01579
2,159PubMed Papers
22Diseases
3Drugs
2Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
ApoptosisHub Gene
RESEARCH IMPACT
Highly StudiedTrending
CLINICAL
FDA Approved TargetOMIM Disease Gene
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
negative regulation of smooth muscle cell proliferationpositive regulation of inflammatory responsemacrophage activation involved in immune responsepositive regulation of neurogenesisPrimary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosisimmunodeficiency 69hypothyroidismHIV-1 infection
✦AI Summary

IFNG (interferon gamma) is a type II interferon produced by T cells and NK cells that orchestrates antimicrobial, antiviral, and antitumor immunity 1. The protein signals primarily through the JAK-STAT pathway: upon binding its receptor IFNGR1, JAK1/JAK2 kinases activate STAT1, which translocates to the nucleus and initiates transcription of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) including transcription factors like IRF1 1. IFNG enhances antigen presentation by inducing immunoproteasome subunit replacement and PA28 expression, increasing peptide quality and quantity for MHC-I loading 234. It upregulates MHC-II complexes through cathepsin induction 5. IFNG polarizes macrophages toward the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype 6. Clinically, IFNG signaling has dual roles in cancer immunity: while promoting exhaustion through PDL1 upregulation in tumor cells, it simultaneously activates innate immune effector cells in favorable tumor contexts 7. In rectal cancer, total neoadjuvant therapy increases IFNG-expressing CD8+ effector memory T cells, correlating with improved response rates 8. IFNG polymorphisms influence disease susceptibility; the +874T allele associates with leprosy resistance, potentially through enhanced interferon production 9. Dysregulation associates with immunodeficiency and age-related conditions including hearing loss 10.

Sources cited
1
IFNG is a type II interferon produced by immune cells that plays crucial roles in antimicrobial, antiviral, and antitumor responses through JAK-STAT signaling and IRF1 induction
PMID: 16914093
2
IFNG enhances class I antigen presentation by inducing immunoproteasome subunit replacement
PMID: 8666937
3
IFNG increases quantity, quality, and repertoire of peptides for class I MHC loading
PMID: 8163024
4
IFNG induces PA28 expression, which associates with the proteasome and alters proteolytic cleavage preference
PMID: 11112687
5
IFNG upregulates MHC II complexes on cell surfaces by promoting expression of cathepsins B, H, and L
PMID: 7729559
6
IFNG stimulation polarizes macrophages toward the M1 pro-inflammatory phenotype
PMID: 29761394
7
IFNG has opposing effects in cancer immunity: promotes T cell exhaustion through PDL1 while activating innate immune cells in certain tumor contexts
PMID: 31398344
8
Total neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer increases IFNG-expressing CD8+ effector memory T cells, correlating with improved complete response rates
PMID: 41202810
9
IFNG +874T allele associates with leprosy resistance, potentially through enhanced interferon-gamma production
PMID: 24389160
10
IFNG is dysregulated in age-related hearing loss and involved in inflammatory responses and cellular apoptosis
PMID: 39329776
Disease Associationsⓘ22
Primary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosisOpen Targets
0.49Moderate
immunodeficiency 69Open Targets
0.47Moderate
hypothyroidismOpen Targets
0.43Moderate
HIV-1 infectionOpen Targets
0.38Weak
tuberous sclerosisOpen Targets
0.38Weak
myxedemaOpen Targets
0.37Weak
inflammatory bowel diseaseOpen Targets
0.32Weak
ulcerative colitisOpen Targets
0.32Weak
aplastic anemiaOpen Targets
0.24Weak
adolescent idiopathic scoliosisOpen Targets
0.22Weak
hemophagocytic syndromeOpen Targets
0.21Weak
uterine fibroidOpen Targets
0.20Weak
premature birthOpen Targets
0.14Weak
respiratory system diseaseOpen Targets
0.14Weak
rheumatoid arthritisOpen Targets
0.14Weak
psoriasisOpen Targets
0.14Weak
deep vein thrombosisOpen Targets
0.13Weak
allergic diseaseOpen Targets
0.13Weak
systemic lupus erythematosusOpen Targets
0.13Weak
SepsisOpen Targets
0.13Weak
Aplastic anemiaUniProt
Immunodeficiency 69UniProt
Pathogenic Variants2
NM_000619.3(IFNG):c.354_357del (p.Thr119fs)Pathogenic
Immunodeficiency 69
☆☆☆☆2022→ Residue 119
NC_000012.12:g.68159923C>APathogenic
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, rapid progression to
☆☆☆☆2003
View on ClinVar ↗
Drug Targets3
AMG-811Phase I
Interferon gamma inhibitor
discoid lupus erythematosus
EMAPALUMABApproved
Interferon gamma inhibitor
FONTOLIZUMABPhase II
Interferon gamma inhibitor
inflammatory bowel disease
Related Genes
PSME1Protein interaction100%IFNGR2Protein interaction100%CCL11Protein interaction100%ANXA5Protein interaction99%FASLGProtein interaction99%ARG1Protein interaction99%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Lung
2%
Liver
2%
Ovary
0%
Brain
0%
Heart
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
IFNGPSME1IFNGR2CCL11ANXA5FASLGARG1
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB1FYH · 2.04 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.09LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.11Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.52 [0.27–1.09]
RankingsWhere IFNG stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #52of 20,598
    Most Researched2,159 · top 1%
  • #708of 1,025
    FDA-Approved Drug Targets1
  • #4,183of 5,498
    Most Pathogenic Variants2
  • #11,162of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.09
Genes detectedIFNG
Sources retrieved50 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
50▼
1
Standardized protocols for differentiation of THP-1 cells to macrophages with distinct M(IFNγ+LPS), M(IL-4) and M(IL-10) phenotypes.
PMID: 32033786
J Immunol Methods · 2020
1.00
2
Polarizing Macrophages In Vitro.
PMID: 29761394
Methods Mol Biol · 2018
0.90
3
Characterization of High and Low IFNG-Expressing Subgroups in Atopic Dermatitis.
PMID: 38892346
Int J Mol Sci · 2024
0.86
4
PMID: 39736012
Front Biosci (Schol Ed) · 2024
0.82
5
Remodeling of T and endothelial cells during total neoadjuvant therapy in rectal cancer.
PMID: 41202810
Cancer Cell · 2025
0.80