Interferon alpha
Interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) is a type of protein and biological response modifier that is produced by the body's white blood cells in response to viral infection or to synthetic compounds. IFN-alpha has both antiviral and immunomodulatory effects and is used as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of certain cancers, such as melanoma, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Production and Function[edit | edit source]
Interferon alpha is produced by leukocytes and lymphoblasts in response to viral infection or to synthetic compounds. It is a type of cytokine, which are proteins that act as messengers between cells. IFN-alpha has both antiviral and immunomodulatory effects. It works by binding to specific receptors on the surface of cells, triggering a series of reactions that lead to the production of proteins that prevent viruses from replicating.
Therapeutic Use[edit | edit source]
Interferon alpha is used as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of certain cancers, such as melanoma, and viral infections, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C. It is also used in the treatment of certain autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.
Side Effects[edit | edit source]
The use of interferon alpha can cause a range of side effects, including flu-like symptoms, fatigue, depression, and anemia. In some cases, these side effects can be severe and may require the dose to be reduced or the treatment to be stopped.
See Also[edit | edit source]
| Interferon alpha Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
