Interferon-Induced Protein 6 (IFI6): Biological Functions, Molecular Mechanisms and Pathological Roles in Human Diseases
- 1West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- 2Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37 Guoxue Lane, Chengdu 610041, China
Abstract
Interferon (IFN)-induced protein 6 (IFI6) is an important member of the IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) family. It plays significant roles in anti-apoptosis, immune regulation, maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis, antiviral defense, and tumor progression. At the molecular mechanism level, IFI6 inhibits mitochondrial membrane depolarization, cytochrome c release, and caspase activation. It also regulates the balance between B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)/Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death (Bim), activates the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-AKT) pathways, and upregulates the ferroptosis-related proteins solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), thereby enhancing cell survival and proliferation through multiple pathways. In terms of immune regulation, IFI6 is associated with immune cells (such as T/B cells, etc.) and the tumor microenvironment. IFI6 regulates mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) and mitochondrial calcium homeostasis, influencing respiratory chain assembly and metabolism. In terms of viral infection, IFI6 may inhibit the replication of multiple viruses (such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), SARS-CoV-2, etc.) by inhibiting flavivirus-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) invagination, interfering with retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptor signaling pathways, and inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase activity. In addition, IFI6 is highly expressed in autoimmune diseases and malignant tumors and is associated with proliferation, metastasis, and poor prognosis. In this review, we aim to highlight IFI6 as a potential key target in disease diagnosis and treatment.
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BibTeX
@article{yang2026interferoninduced,
title = {{Interferon-Induced Protein 6 (IFI6): Biological Functions, Molecular Mechanisms and Pathological Roles in Human Diseases}},
author = {Jingyu Yang and Yuehong Chen and Yulin Zhang and Qibing Xie and Geng Yin},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27209340},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9340},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Interferon-Induced Protein 6 (IFI6): Biological Functions, Molecular Mechanisms and Pathological Roles in Human Diseases
AU - Jingyu Yang
AU - Yuehong Chen
AU - Yulin Zhang
AU - Qibing Xie
AU - Geng Yin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27209340
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9340
AB - Interferon (IFN)-induced protein 6 (IFI6) is an important member of the IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) family. It plays significant roles in anti-apoptosis, immune regulation, maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis, antiviral defense, and tumor progression. At the molecular mechanism level, IFI6 inhibits mitochondrial membrane depolarization, cytochrome c release, and caspase activation. It also regulates the balance between B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)/Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death (Bim), activates the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-AKT) pathways, and upregulates the ferroptosis-related proteins solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), thereby enhancing cell survival and proliferation through multiple pathways. In terms of immune regulation, IFI6 is associated with immune cells (such as T/B cells, etc.) and the tumor microenvironment. IFI6 regulates mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) and mitochondrial calcium homeostasis, influencing respiratory chain assembly and metabolism. In terms of viral infection, IFI6 may inhibit the replication of multiple viruses (such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), SARS-CoV-2, etc.) by inhibiting flavivirus-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) invagination, interfering with retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptor signaling pathways, and inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase activity. In addition, IFI6 is highly expressed in autoimmune diseases and malignant tumors and is associated with proliferation, metastasis, and poor prognosis. In this review, we aim to highlight IFI6 as a potential key target in disease diagnosis and treatment.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -