What is the mechanism of action of interferon?
Mechanism of Action: Interferons inhibit varying stages of viral replication including viral entry, uncoating, mRNA synthesis and protein synthesis. IFNs have profound immunomodulatory properties. The immune response to IFN-alpha appears to be critical to clearance of hepatitis B and C infection.
How does alpha interferon work?
How interferon alfa works. Interferon alfa stimulates T cells and other immune system cells to attack the cancer. It can also encourage cancer cells to send out chemicals that attract immune system cells to them.
What is the role of alpha interferon?
Alpha interferon is produced by white blood cells other than lymphocytes, beta interferon by fibroblasts, and gamma interferon by natural killer cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (killer T cells). All interferons inhibit viral replication by interfering with the transcription of viral nucleic acid.
What do interferons alpha and beta do?
In the context of viral infections, interferons alpha and beta (IFN-alpha/beta) are induced to high levels, and help to mediate and regulate immune responses most effective against this class of agents.
How is interferon alpha used in the treatment of cancer?
Interferon-alpha and cancer: mechanisms of action and new perspectives of clinical use Interferons-alpha (IFN-alpha) are pleiotropic cytokines belonging to type I IFNs, extensively used in the treatment of patients with some types of cancer and viral disease. IFN-alpha can affect tumor cell functions by multiple mechanisms.
What is the mechanism of action of interferons?
Background: Interferons are a recombinant form of endogenous interferon. By inducing the release of intracellular enzymes such as 2’5′ oligoadenylate synthetase and double stranded RNA dependent protein kinase, the drug causes degradation of viral messenger RNA and inhibits protein synthesis.
What are the side effects of interferon alfa-an?
In the responding patients, eosinophil counts decrease, and improvement in splenomegaly and hepatomegaly has been reported. Moreover, the risk of cardiac and thromboembolic complications can be reduced by treatment with IFN-α. Finally, mucosal ulcerative lesions and other skin manifestations may substantially improve.
How is interferon alfa used to treat hepatitis C?
Treatment with interferon alfa (IFN-α) alone can occasionally completely eradicate hepatitis C infection, but sustained virologic response is seen in less than 20% of patients.81,82 Pegylated interferon is a synthetic interferon to which polyethylene glycol has been attached, prolonging duration of action.
