What is interferon?

Answer 1

Interferons are small, natural or synthetic protein and glycoprotein cytokines that are produced by leucocytes, T-lymphocytes, and fibroblasts in response to infection and other biological stimuli. In cancer treatment, they are used as immunotherapy against the proliferation of cancer cells.

The goal of interferon use is to activate tumor-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. T-lymphocytes are cells of the immune system that destroy foreign cells. Thus, tumor cells would be destroyed based on immunotherapy.

Interferons attach to special receptors on the surface of cell membranes. They have a variety of functions, including enhancing or inhibiting enzymes, decreasing cell proliferation, or enhancing the activity of macrophages and T-lymphocytes. There are several different classes of interferons, including alpha, beta, gamma, tau, and omega. The classes can be further broken into subclasses and classified using Arabic numerals and letters. Cancer therapy research primarily focuses on alpha interferons.

In 1957, researchers discovered that the immune system produced a substance in response to a viral infection that acted as an antiviral agent. They called that substance "interferon." Since then, recombinant DNA technology has provided a larger supply of interferons and has allowed extensive research regarding interferon's therapeutic properties against cancer.

Alpha interferons are used to treat cancers such as hairy cell leukemia, malignant melanoma, and Kaposi's sarcoma (an AIDS-related cancer). Off the label, alpha interferons are used to treat many other cancers including bladder cancer, chronic myelocytic leukemia, kidney cancer, carcinoid tumors, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, ovarian cancer, and skin cancers. Alpha interferons can be combined with other chemotherapeutic drugs such as doxorubicin.-

Answer 2

Interferons (IFNs) are natural proteins produced by the cells of the immune system of most vertebrates in response to challenges by foreign agents such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and tumor cells. Interferons belong to the large class of glycoproteins known as cytokines. Interferons assist the immune response by inhibiting viral replication within other cells of the body

Answer 3

I take 20 mgs of interferon three time a week for melanoma cancer. The side effects on me are very harsh. My muscles ache 24/7, no energy and low concentration. But after a year of treatment, it will increase my 5 yr survivability rate by 9%.

Answer 4

Interferons are proteins that are produced by a cell that is infected by a virus. These proteins are released and reacts with surrounding cells that signal them to make other inteferons so that the virus can not affect them. They are used for treatment of certain viral infections and cancers.

Answer 5

On Biochem.Any of various proteins inhibiting or stopping the development & multiplication of a virus in a cell.