News tagged with interferon
Research deciphers HIV attack plan
(Medical Xpress)—A new study by Los Alamos National Laboratory and University of Pennsylvania scientists defines previously unknown properties of transmitted HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS. The viruses ...
HIV & AIDS
Apr 01, 2013 |
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Targeting hepatitis C treatment: The importance of interleukin (IL)-28
A metanalysis published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine has confirmed that polymorphisms (SNP) in the gene coding for interleukin-28 (IL28B) influence natural hepatitis C viral (HCV) ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Jan 07, 2013 |
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Gingivitis bacteria manipulate your immune system so they can thrive in your gums
A new research report published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology shows how the bacteria known for causing gum disease—Porphyromonas gingivalis—manipulates the body's immune system to disable normal processes that would ot ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Jan 03, 2013 |
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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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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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New MS drug proves effective where others have failed
A drug which 'reboots' a person's immune system has been shown to be an effective treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who have already failed to respond to the first drug with which they were treated (a 'first-line' ...
Neuroscience
Oct 31, 2012 |
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Uncovering the source of inflammatory malaise
(Medical Xpress)—A study conducted by researchers at Emory indicates that inflammation targets a part of the brain called the basal ganglia, causing symptoms of depression and fatigue. The study was recently ...
Psychology & Psychiatry
Oct 22, 2012 |
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Researchers elucidate transport pathway of immune system substances
To transport substances from the site of their production to their destination, the body needs a sophisticated transport and sorting system. Various receptors in and on the cells recognize certain molecules, pack them and ...
Immunology
Oct 18, 2012 |
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Some MS patients experience 'natural' improvements in disability
(Medical Xpress)—Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients sometimes experience "natural" improvements in disability at least over the short term, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of British Columbia ...
Neuroscience
Oct 18, 2012 |
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Abbott Labs rises on hepatitis C drug data (Update)
Abbott Laboratories said Monday that its experimental hepatitis C drug regimen cured 99 percent of patients in a midstage study with the most common and hardest-to-treat type of the disease.
Medications
Oct 15, 2012 |
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Scientists have discovered how mosquitoes develop viral immunity
(Medical Xpress)—Published online in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the team from CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory, in Geelong, have shown Vago, a prote ...
Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Oct 03, 2012 |
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Deadly complication of stem cell transplants reduced in mice
(Medical Xpress)—Studying leukemia in mice, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have reduced a life-threatening complication of stem cell transplants, the only curative treatment when leukemia ...
Medical research
Sep 27, 2012 |
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Study finds breast cancer cells able to turn off interferon production to avoid immune response
(Medical Xpress) -- Researchers working in Australia have found that certain breast cancer cells are able to switch off the gene that is responsible for causing the production of interferon, an immunity response protein that ...
Cancer
Jul 23, 2012 |
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Timing, duration of biochemical bugle call critical for fighting viruses
Researchers have identified the primary player of the biochemical bugle call that musters the body's defenders against viral infection.
Medical research
Jun 13, 2012 |
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Hepatitis C drug can cause depression
There's a high rate of depression among patients with hepatitis C, but a standard treatment for the disease includes a drug, interferon, that can cause depression.
Medications
May 01, 2012 |
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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.
