noblood - Interferon

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

Primary component of origin

White blood cells

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.