What is the mechanism of action of interferon alpha?

Question

in particular reference to hepatitis c. how does the bloody thing work

Answer 1

Interferon alpha inhibits hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication by one or many mechanisms however its precise mechanism of action is not fully understood yet. Researches have demonstrated that interferon alpha has direct antiviral activity in patients with diseases such as hepatitis C.

>>Interferon- inhibits hepatitis C virus subgenomic RNA replication by an MxA-independent pathway.
>>It can inhibit viral replication indirectly by altered cytokine synthesis, which in turn can amplify the cytotoxic T cell (specific) and natural killer cell (nonspecific) response to virally infected cells.
>>Mechanisms of direct inhibition of viral replication include prevention of virus attachment to host cells and uncoating of the virus; increase of viral antigen expression by infected cells; induction of cellular enzymes such as "2’5’ oligoadenylate synthetase" that impair RNA synthesis.
>>It inhibits multiple steps of the
HCV replication cycle leading to a reduction in viral protein synthesis and eventually inhibition of viral RNA amplification.
>>It could suppress the accumulation of viral RNA by both cytopathic and noncytopathic pathway.
>> The p38-MK2 signaling pathway may be substantially involved in the Interferon alpha-mediated anti-HCV activity.

Answer 2

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