High throughput cDNA sequencing has led to the identification of interferon-κ, a novel
subclass of type I interferon that displays∼ 30% homology to other family members.
Interferon-κ consists of 207 amino acids, including a 27-amino acid signal peptide and a
series of cysteines conserved in type I interferons. The gene encoding interferon-κ is located
on the short arm of chromosome 9 adjacent to the type I interferon gene cluster and is
selectively expressed in epidermal keratinocytes. Expression of interferon-κ is significantly …