IFNG and viral infectious disease: Considering that a similar mechanism of cellular immunity has been proposed to operate against viral infections of the liver (Guidotti, 2002; Guidotti and Iannacone, 2013), IFN-γ induced iNOS activation in hepatocytes (Chen et al., 2003) may have evolved as an efficient strategy to control hepatotropic microbes while promoting hepatocyte survival and preserving the function of this essential organ.