Interferon
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Protein of the immune system largely secreted by white blood cells in response to challenges by foreign agents such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and tumour cells
Contents |
Primary component of origin
Percent of component
Production
Originally extracted from sequestered (separated) blood, interferon is now made almost entirely by recombinant DNA technology However, it may still contain a small amount of human serum albumin used as a stabilizer. Interferon alfa-n3 is the only leukocyte-derived (white blood cell-derived) product that is in clinical use.
Medicinal Value
Several different types of interferon are now approved for use in humans; and interferon therapy is used, in combination with chemotheraphy and radiation, as a treatment for many types of systemic cancer.
Studies have shown interferons to be beneficial in treating viral infections of hepatitis B or C viruses, varicella-zoster virus, herpes simplex viruses, rhinoviruses, and papillomaviruses.
Risks
- As with any medicine, there is the potential for serious side effects as well as possible drug interactions.
- Alpha interferons may cause or aggravate fatal or life-threatening autoimmune (eg, lupus), neuropsychiatric (eg, depression), ischemic (eg, heart problems), or infectious disorders.
Pharmaceuticals, found in
Generic Name: Iterferon alfa-2a
Brand Names: Alferon N, Roferon-A, Intron A, Infergen
Generic Name: Peginterferon alfa-2b
Brand Name: Pegasys, PEG-Intron, ViraferonPeg
Generic Name: Interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin
Brand Name: Rebetron
Generic Name: Interferon Beta-1a
Brand Names: Avonex, Rebif
Generic Name: Interferon Beta-1b
Brand Name: Betaseron, (known as Betaferon in Europe)
Generic name: Interferon gamma 1A
Brand Name: IMUNOMAX
Generic name: Interferon gamma 1B
Brand Names: ACTIMMUNE, IMUKIN
Alternatives
Nucleoside drugs, man-made molecules that closely resemble the biochemical units that make up genetic material (DNA and RNA), are sometimes used as alternatives to interferon therapy:
Generic Name: Adefovir Dipivoxil
Brand Name: Hepsera®
Generic Name: Entecavir
Brand Name: Baraclude®
Generic Name: Lamivudine
Brand Name: Epivir®
Factoids
- Interferons are a family of naturally-occurring proteins that are produced by cells of the immune system. Three classes of interferons have been identified: Alfa, beta and gamma.
- Each class has different effects though their activities overlap. Together, the interferons direct the immune system's attack on viruses, bacteria, tumors and other foreign substances that may invade the body; once these proteins have detected and attacked a foreign substance, they alter it by slowing, blocking, or changing its growth or function
- Interferons are sometimes combined with other drugs, (eg. antibiotics, anti-fungal) to produce a specific medicine.
- Interferon gamma is one of three types of interferon that occur naturally in the human body. While alpha and beta interferons bind to the type 1 receptor on cell surfaces, interferon gamma is a type 2 interferon that binds to a different receptor.
- Though humans produce at least 20 different types of interferon-alpha, only interferon alpha 2b and interferon alpha 2a are FDA approved for clinical use in the U.S. While their anti-viral actions are similar, only interferon alpha 2b is licensed for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.
