TI  - Activation of  <prot><prot>interferon-gamma</prot>  inducing factor</prot> mediated by
       <prot><prot>interleukin-1beta</prot> converting enzyme</prot> .
PG  - 206-9
AB  - The  <prot><prot>interleukin-1beta</prot> ( <prot>IL-1beta</prot> ) converting enzyme</prot> (<prot>ICE</prot>)  processes the
      inactive  <prot>IL-1beta</prot> precursor  to the proinflammatory cytokine.  <prot>ICE</prot>  was also
      shown to cleave the precursor of  <prot><prot>interferon-gamma</prot> inducing factor</prot> (<prot>IGIF</prot>) 
      at the authentic processing site with high efficiency, thereby activating
      <prot>IGIF</prot> and facilitating its export. Lipopolysaccharide-activated
      <prot>ICE</prot>-deficient (ICE-/-) Kupffer cells synthesized the <prot>IGIF</prot> precursor but
      failed to process it into the active form. <prot>Interferon-gamma</prot> and <prot>IGIF</prot> were
      diminished in the sera of <prot>ICE</prot>-/- mice exposed to Propionibacterium acnes
      and lipopolysaccharide. The lack of multiple proinflammatory cytokines in
      <prot>ICE</prot>-/- mice may account for their protection from septic shock.
AD  - Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 130 Waverly Street, Cambridge, MA 02139,
