Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) A Perspective Biomarker for Diagnosis of Oral Diseases

Abstract

IFN-γ (Interferon gamma) a proinflammatory cytokine, initially considered as a crucial biological molecule as a potent anti-tumor cytokine, macrophage activator, antigen precentor, regulating mucosal homeostasis and cell-mediated immunity and repairing tissue within the oral cavity(1, 2). An innovative transformation has been established in the field of diagnosis due to an advancement of Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) from its simple pro-inflammatory function to a more sophisticated model of immune regulation. IFN-γ serves dual function such as bone resorption through osteoclastogenesis, besides the unexpected and protective effects mediated by T regulatory cells, has demonstrated its specific and spatiotemporal expressing patterns(3). Based on these innovations the current therapeutic strategies have shifted from broad IFN-γ suppression toward targeted and phase-specificized interventions. Research have focused on how lymphocyte-derived IFN-γ is directly influencing keratinocyte apoptosis and sustaining chronic inflammation via specific chemokine pathways facilitating the development of highly selective therapies and blocking this cytokine axis without causing broad immunosuppression. Additionally, the dual role of IFN-γ in oral diseases, predominantly its complex function in oral squamous cell carcinoma, has emerged as a critical area of investigation(4, 5).