Final answer:
Cells neighboring an infected cell respond to released interferons by producing substances that inhibit viral replication and by activating an immune response that may include apoptosis of infected cells, limiting the spread of the infection.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a cell is infected with a virus, it releases interferons, which are a type of cytokine. These interferons function as a warning system to adjacent cells, signaling them to initiate a defensive response against the virus. Neighboring uninfected cells respond to the interferons by producing substances that inhibit viral replication and reduce protein synthesis. Additionally, interferons can induce infected cells to undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death), thereby limiting the spread of the infection. This immune response is critical in controlling viral infections and also plays a role in tumor surveillance, by activating immune cells like macrophages and NK cells which can detect and destroy unhealthy or abnormal cells exhibiting reduced or altered MHC I molecules.