MxA: a broadly acting effector of interferon-induced human innate immunity

The Human MxA protein belongs to the dynamin superfamily of large GTPases and plays a vital role in human immunity against a broad spectrum of viruses. Evasion from MxA restriction accounts for the zoonotic transmission of many pathogenic viruses. In addition to its antiviral activity, MxA has also been implicated as an inhibitor against tumor cell motility and invasion. Over the past few decades, many advances have been made in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of MxA-mediated autoimmunity, including the determination of MxA structures at high resolutions. Together, they provide exciting insights into the antiviral function of MxA, laying a solid foundation for antiviral drug development and pandemic virus infection control, and also shed light on the development of novel approaches for the prevention and treatment against cancer metastasis.