News tagged with interferon
Key immune substance linked to asthma, study finds
Stanford University School of Medicine investigators have linked a master molecule of the immune system, gamma-interferon, to the pathology of asthma, in a study of mice. This somewhat surprising finding — the key immune ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Jul 01, 2011 |
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Study reveals trigger that may speed melanoma growth
(HealthDay) -- Growth of the deadly skin cancer melanoma may be triggered by the immune system turning on itself, according to a new study that also identified the mechanism that causes this to happen.
Cancer
Mar 28, 2012 |
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A comparative medicine study identifies new approach to combat viral infections
When a virus such as influenza invades our bodies, interferon proteins are among the first immune molecules produced to fight off the attack. Interferon can also play a role in suppressing tumor growth and ...
Medical research
Nov 09, 2012 |
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Japanese team creates cancer-specific killer T cells from induced pluripotent stem cells
Researchers from the RIKEN Research Centre for Allergy and Immunology in Japan report today that they have succeeded for the first time in creating cancer-specific, immune system cells called killer T lymphocytes, from induced ...
Medical research
Jan 03, 2013 |
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Oral interferon may prevent and control avian influenza virus infection
Avian influenza virus is a threat to the commercial chicken industry and, with its recent rapid spread across China, has also shown the ability for transmission from chickens to humans and other mammals. In an article in ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Jul 28, 2011 |
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Recipient's immune system governs stem cell regeneration
A new study in Nature Medicine describes how different types of immune system T-cells alternately discourage and encourage stem cells to regrow bone and tissue, bringing into sharp focus the importance of the transplant recipient's ...
Medical research
Nov 20, 2011 |
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How music prevents heart transplant rejection
Music has a fundamental affect on humans. It can reduce stress, enhance relaxation, provide a distraction from pain, and improve the results of clinical therapy. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal ...
Cardiology
Mar 22, 2012 |
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MECP2 duplication affects immune system as well as brain development
In 1999, Dr. Huda Zoghbi and colleagues at Baylor College of Medicine identified the genetic cause of Rett syndrome (a neurological disorder that begins after birth) – MECP2 mutation. Too little of the MeCP2 protein associated ...
Medical research
Dec 05, 2012 |
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Hepatitis C kills more Americans than HIV: study
More Americans died in 2007 of hepatitis C infection, which causes incurable liver disease, than from the virus that causes AIDS, US health authorities said this week.
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Feb 23, 2012 |
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Cracking the interferon code
(Medical Xpress) -- Interferons, protective chemicals produced by most cells in the body, live up to their name, hampering cancer and viral infections. It takes many different kinds of interferon molecules to get the job ...
Medical research
Aug 24, 2011 |
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Arrival of direct antiviral agent therapy for hepatitis C sparks debate of who to treat first
For many patients with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), direct antiviral agents (DAA) offer a potential cure for the disease. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved two new DAAs, telaprevir and boceprevir, ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
May 25, 2011 |
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Will new drugs block hepatitis C virus in its tracks?
Targeted multi-drug treatments for hepatitis C patients that could stop the virus in its tracks have come a step closer, thanks to researchers at the University of Leeds, UK.
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Jun 28, 2011 |
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Virus attacks childhood cancers
Researchers from Yale University are looking to a virus from the same family as the rabies virus to fight a form of cancer primarily found in children and young adults. They report their findings in the September 2011 issue ...
Cancer
Aug 29, 2011 |
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Alcohol impairs the body's ability to fight off viral infection
Alcohol is known to worsen the effects of disease, resulting in longer recovery period after trauma, injury or burns. It is also known to impair the anti-viral immune response, especially in the liver, including response ...
Health
Sep 30, 2011 |
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What role do cytokines play in autoimmune diseases?
Cytokines, a varied group of signaling chemicals in the body, have been described as the software that runs the immune system, but when that software malfunctions, dysregulation of the immune system can result in debilitating ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Oct 27, 2011 |
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Interferon
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of pathogens—such as viruses, bacteria, or parasites—or tumor cells. They allow communication between cells to trigger the protective defenses of the immune system that eradicate pathogens or tumors.
IFNs belong to the large class of glycoproteins known as cytokines. Interferons are named after their ability to "interfere" with viral replication within host cells. IFNs have other functions: they activate immune cells, such as natural killer cells and macrophages; they increase recognition of infection or tumor cells by up-regulating antigen presentation to T lymphocytes; and they increase the ability of uninfected host cells to resist new infection by virus. Certain host symptoms, such as aching muscles and fever, are related to the production of IFNs during infection.
About ten distinct IFNs have been identified in mammals; seven of these have been described for humans. They are typically divided among three IFN classes: Type I IFN, Type II IFN, and Type III IFN. IFNs belonging to all IFN classes are very important for fighting viral infections.
For more information about Interferon, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
