A-interferon

Interferons (lENs) (52,53), a family of species-specific vertebrate proteins, confer nonspecific resistance to a broad range of viral infections, affect cell proliferation, and modulate immune responses. AH three principal interferons, a-interferon (lEN-a) produced by blood leucocytes, P-interferon (lEN-P) by fibroblasts, and y-interferon (lEN-y) by lymphocytes, also have antiviral activity. The abiUty of interferons to inhibit growth of transplantable and carcinogen-induced tumor led to research showing the direct antiproliferative and indirect immune-mediated antitumor activities (see Chemotherapeutics, anticancer). IENs have been found to be efficacious in certain malignancies and viral infections, eg, hairy cell leukemia (85% response) and basal cell carcinoma (86% response). However, the interferons do have adverse side effects (54). 

Interferon alfa-2a (Roferon A), interferon alfa-2b (Intron-A), and interferon alfacon-1 (Infergen) are approved for chronic hepatitis C. However, they are not prescribed alone because only 12% to 16% of patients achieve a sustained virologic response (SVR). Adding ribavirin, a synthetic guanosine analogue that inhibits viral polymerase, increases the SVR rate to 35% to 45%. 

Drugs (amiodarone, radiocontrast media, lithium, a-interferon) Silent thyroiditis (including postpartum)... 

The categories of a, (3, and y interferons exist the a interferons are used in the treatment of cancer. Interferon enhances the immune system s attack on cancer cells, can decrease new... 

Intron A interferon a-2b Schering-Plough Hairy cell leukemia, genital warts, AIDS-related Kaposi s sarcoma, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, malignant melanoma, follicular lymphoma in conjunction with chemotherapy... 

Uncommon causes of diabetes (1% to 2% of cases) include endocrine disorders (e.g., acromegaly, Cushing s syndrome), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), diseases of the exocrine pancreas (e.g., pancreatitis), and medications (e.g., glucocorticoids, pentamidine, niacin, and a-interferon). 

Crow, M.K. and Kirou, K.A., Interferon-alpha in systemic lupus erythematosus, Cum. Opin. Rheumatol., 16, 541, 2004. 

Gutterman, J.U., Fine, S., Quesada, J., Homing, S.J., Levine, J.F., Alexanian, R., Bernhardt, L., Kramer, M., Speigal, H., Colburn, W., Trown, R, Merigan, T. and Dziewanawska, Z. (1982). Recombinant leukocyte A interferon Pharmacokinetics, single-dose tolerance, and biological effects in cancer patients. Ann. Intern. Med. 96 549-556. 

Denovan-Wright EM, Ferrier GR, Robertson HA, Hewlett SE. 2000. Increased expression of the gene for a-interferon inducible protein in cardiomyopathic hamster heart. Bio-chem Biophys Res Comm 267 103. 

The synthetic polymeric components as well as their combinations with proteins such as human serum albumin (HSA), bovine serum albumin (BSA), human serum albumin/a-interferon mixtures (HSA-IFNa) and myoglobin (MYO) did not give any negative response to in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility tests, such as platelet aggregation, complement activation, acute toxicity, and acute thromboembolic potential. 

Interferons—a family of glycoproteins processed by macrophages—also are widely used as immunostimulants (a -interferons), made in macrophages and fibroblasts (j3-interferons), made in lymphocytes (7-interferons), which are named for their ability to react with viral RNA and affect protein synthesis. Commercially accessible a-, fi-, and y-interferons are currently used in medicine. Practically the only purely synthetic immunos-timulant drug that is used is levamisole, which was initially proposed as an anthelminthic agent, and it is currently widely used as such. 

Several amperometric immunosensors have been developed for monoclonal antibodies (IgG), a-interferon and the pesticide 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid (2,4-D) by using a flow-cell with the catching antibody covalently bound to a cellulose acetate or activated nylon membrane as shown in Fig. 3.31. B. With multiepitope antigens (e.g. a protein), after the antigen is bound and washed, a second enzyme-labelled antibody is used to form a sandwich... 

Suspension t-PA, factor Vlll, factor IX, a interferon, several MAbs... 

The production of somatostatin, human insulin, a-interferon, the growth hormone, and erythropoietin are landmarks of the recent past of genetic engineering. 

Gutterman, J.U., S. Pine, J. Quesada, S.J. Horning, IP. Levine, R. Alexanian, L. Bernhardt, M. Kramer, H. Spiegel, W. Colburn, P. Trown, T. Merigan, and Z. Dziewanowski, Recombinant leukocyte A interferon pharmacokinetics, single-dose tolerance, and biologic effects in cancer patients. Ann Intern Med, 1982. 96(5) 549-56. 

Faro, A., Interferon-alpha and its effects on post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders. Springer Semin Immunopathol, 1998. 20(3 ) 425-36. 

Although early studies suggested that a-interferon was active against hepatitis... 

Streuli, M., S. Nagata, and C. Weissman, At least three human type a interferons structure of o2. Science, 1980. 209 1343-49. 

Hoofnagle, J.H., M.G. Peters, K.D. MuUen, et al.. Randomized, controlled trial of recombinant human a-interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Gastroenterology, 1988. 95 1318-25. 

A. General description Intron A (interferon alfa-2b recombinant) is a recombi-nantly derived water-soluble protein with a molecular weight of 19.3 kDa. It is obtained from the bacterial fermentation of a strain of Escherichia coli bearing a genetically engineered plasmid containing an interferon alfa-2b gene from human leukocytes. 

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