 The IFN-α proteins are produced mainly by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs).They are mainly involved in innate immunity against viral infection.The genes responsible for their synthesis come in 13 subtypes that are called IFNA1, IFNA2, IFNA4, IFNA5, IFNA6, IFNA7, IFNA8, IFNA10, IFNA13, IFNA14, IFNA16, IFNA17, IFNA21.