What is interferon alpha used to treat?

What is interferon alpha used to treat?

Interferon alfa-2b is used to treat hairy cell leukemia, malignant melanoma, follicular lymphoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma caused by AIDS, and certain types of genital warts. Interferon alfa-2b is also used to treat chronic hepatitis B or C in adults, and to treat chronic hepatitis B in children who are at least 1 year old.

Is interferon an alpha immunosuppression?

Interferon-alpha promotes immunosuppression through IFNAR1/STAT1 signalling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Br J Cancer.

What is human interferon alpha?

Human interferon alpha (hIFN ) is a wide biological activity cytokine that is used in hepatitis and cancer treatments. It regulates many genes that are involved in antiviral and antiproliferative activities.

What do interferons alpha and beta do?

Innate cytokine responses are important mediators of early defense against infections. In the context of viral infections, interferons alpha and beta (IFN-alpha/beta) are induced to high levels, and help to mediate and regulate immune responses most effective against this class of agents.

What do interferons do in the immune system?

Interferons are proteins that are part of your natural defenses. They tell your immune system that germs or cancer cells are in your body. And they trigger killer immune cells to fight those invaders.

Do humans produce interferon?

Interferon, any of several related proteins that are produced by the body’s cells as a defensive response to viruses. They are important modulators of the immune response.

Do humans have interferon?

The type I interferons present in humans are IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-ε, IFN-κ and IFN-ω. In general, type I interferons are produced when the body recognizes a virus that has invaded it. They are produced by fibroblasts and monocytes.

What is the function of interferon beta?

Interferon-beta reduces myeloid dendritic concentrations in peripheral blood. It also alters the function of dendritic cells and other APCs to downregulate antigen presentation and the ability of APCs to stimulate T-cell responses.

What do beta interferons do?

Beta interferon (sometimes referred to as interferon beta), released at the end of an immune attack, blocks the action of gamma interferon and helps to reduce inflammation and the body’s immune reaction.

What are the side effects of interferon alfa?

The most frequent adverse effects of interferon alfa include flu-like symptoms, nausea, fatigue, weight loss, hematological toxicities, elevated transaminases, and psychiatric problems (e.g., depression and suicidal ideation). Interferon beta is better tolerated than interferon alfa. 11,12

What kind of cancer is interferon alfa used for?

Interferon alfa-2b is also sometimes used to treat hepatitis D virus (HDV; swelling of the liver caused by a virus), basal cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer), cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL, a type of skin cancer), and kidney cancer.

Where can I get interferon alfa 2b injections?

You will receive your first dose of interferon alfa-2b in your doctor’s office. After that, you can inject interferon alfa-2b yourself or have a friend or relative give you the injections.

How is interferon alfa 2b used to treat hepatitis C?

Interferon alfa-2b injection is used to treat a number of conditions. alone or in combination with ribavirin (Copegus, Rebetol, Ribasphere) to treat chronic (long-term) hepatitis C infection (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) in people who show signs of liver damage,