What are the long-term effects of interferon therapy?
The immunosuppression brought about by interferon therapy contributes to leads to numerous side effects and poor long-term outcome. It is not uncommon for the efficacy of interferon treatment to disappear within six months following discontinuation of therapy.
What is interferon used to treat?
Each form of interferon has different effects on the body. As well as occurring naturally in the body, interferon is also used as a treatment for various health disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS), some types of cancer, and hepatitis C. What are the possible side effects?
How long does interferon treatment for hepatitis C last?
The interferons then work with the immune system to fight the virus and keep it from spreading. ( 2) Interferon treatment for hepatitis C is considerably long – about 24 to 48 weeks – which can lead to a number of long term side effects.
What are the indications for Interferon therapy for cancer?
[38] Interferon therapy is used (in combination with chemotherapy and radiation) as a treatment for some cancers. [39] This treatment can be used in hematological malignancy, such as in leukemia and lymphomas including hairy cell leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, nodular lymphoma, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. [39]
How long does it take for interferon to work?
Occurs within 1-2 hours of treatment, may last up to 24 hours (over time the intensity of these symptoms decreases depending on the dose, how it is given, and the schedule of administration). Fatigue , drowsiness. Low blood counts . Your white and red blood cells and platelets may temporarily decrease.
How is interferon treatment administered?
You get interferon as a shot under your skin or into a muscle. A doctor can give you the shot or teach you how to give it to yourself at home. Interferon is also sometimes given through a vein in your arm (infusion). The number of shots or infusions you need depends on the condition you have.
Is interferon considered chemotherapy?
Interferon-alfa2b is different than a chemotherapy drug; it is actually a natural part of your body's immune system. It is known as a cytokine, which are chemicals normally secreted by cells called leukocytes in response to a virus, bacteria, or other foreign intruders.
Is interferon a treatment for Covid?
Interferon therapy shows striking results against COVID-19.
How much does interferon treatment cost?
The total cost of the IFN treatment regimen was estimated to range between US$1,120 and US$1,962 and the total cost of the Peg-IFN treatment regimen between US$2,156 and US$5,887 ( Table 3).
How often is interferon given?
Interferon beta-1a subcutaneous injection comes as a solution (liquid) in a prefilled syringe or a prefilled automatic injection device to inject subcutaneously (under the skin). It is usually injected three times a week.
Does interferon cause hair loss?
Your hair may become thin, brittle, or may fall out. This typically begins two to three weeks after treatment starts. This hair loss can be all body hair, including pubic, underarm, legs/arms, eyelashes, and nose hairs. The use of scarves, wigs, hats, and hairpieces may help.
How useful are interferons in oncology?
Interferon alfa stimulates T cells and other immune system cells to attack the cancer. It can also encourage cancer cells to send out chemicals that attract immune system cells to them.
Is interferon an immunotherapy?
Interferon is a type of immunotherapy patients receive as adjuvant therapy to reduce the risk of melanoma relapse.
What are the potential risks of interferons?
Interferons can cause increased blood pressure and heart rate, which are both risk factors for stroke. These actions can cause two types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic.
What are interferon treatments?
Interferon alfa-2b injection is used to treat hepatitis B and C, lymphoma (lymph node cancer), malignant melanoma (skin cancer), genital warts, hairy cell leukemia (blood cell cancer), and Kaposi sarcoma (AIDS-related tumor). Interferons are substances produced by cells in the body to help fight infections and tumors.
What is interferon immunity?
The interferons are a family of cytokine mediators critically involved in alerting the cellular immune system to viral infection of host cells.
When was interferon first used?
In 1986 , the first lab-made interferon was created to treat certain types of cancer. It was one of the earliest treatments to work with your immune system to fight illness and was later approved as a treatment for several other conditions, including hepatitis and multiple sclerosis.
How do you get interferon?
You get interferon as a shot under your skin or into a muscle. A doctor can give you the shot or teach you how to give it to yourself at home. Interferon is also sometimes given through a vein in your arm (infusion). The number of shots or infusions you need depends on the condition you have.
Why are interferons called interferons?
And they trigger killer immune cells to fight those invaders. Interferons got their name because they "interfere" with viruses and keep them from multiplying. In 1986, the first lab-made interferon was created to treat certain types of cancer.
What is the difference between Interferon Beta and Actimmune?
Interferon-beta treats different types of multiple sclerosis. It eases inflammation in your brain and spinal cord to prevent nerve damage. Interferon gamma-1b (Actimmune) treats chronic granulomatous disease, which affects the way your immune system works, and severe malignant osteopetrosis, which affects your bones.
What is the chemical in interferon?
Certain types of interferon medications have a chemical called polyethylene glycol (PEG) added to them. PEG makes the medicine last longer in your body, so you don't need as many shots. These are called peginterferon drugs.
What are the three types of interferons?
Almost every cell in your body makes interferons. There are three main types: Interferon-alpha (or interferon-alfa) Interferon-beta. Interferon-gamma. Cells that have been infected with viruses or other germs give off interferon-alpha and interferon-beta as a warning signal to your immune system. That triggers immune cells called white blood cells ...
Can interferons cause hyperthyroidism?
Continued. Thyroid disease. In rare cases, interferons can make the thyroid gland overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism).
Recommendations
The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) recommends against the use of systemic interferon beta for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (AI).
Rationale
Many of the early studies that evaluated the use of systemic interferons for the treatment of COVID-19 were conducted in early 2020, before the widespread use of remdesivir and corticosteroids.
Clinical Trials
See ClinicalTrials.gov for a list of clinical trials that are evaluating the use of interferons for the treatment of COVID-19.
Adverse Effects
The most frequent adverse effects of systemic interferon include flu-like symptoms, nausea, fatigue, weight loss, hematological toxicities, elevated transaminases, and psychiatric problems (e.g., depression, suicidal ideation). Interferon beta is better tolerated than interferon alfa, but it can cause similar types of adverse effects. 6,7
Drug-Drug Interactions
Additive toxicities may occur when systemic interferons are used concomitantly with other immunomodulators and chemotherapeutic agents. 6,7
Considerations in Pregnancy
According to analyses of data from several large pregnancy registries, exposure to interferon beta-1b prior to conception or during pregnancy does not lead to an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes (e.g., spontaneous abortion, congenital anomaly). 8,9 Exposure to interferon beta-1b did not influence birth weight, height, or head circumference.
Considerations in Children
There are currently not enough data on the use of interferons to treat respiratory viral infections in children to make any recommendations for treating children with COVID-19.
What are the side effects of interferon?
One of the common and potentially most serious side effects of treatment with interferon is depression. A 2009 review. Trusted Source. on the subject found that the risk factors for developing depression during interferon treatment include: poor sleep quality. chronic inflammation in the body.
What is the role of interferon in the immune system?
When interferon is released, it sets off a series of reactions in nearby cells to help them defend against the infection. Interferon is, therefore, a critical part of the immune system.
What is the last medically reviewed on February 16, 2018?
Last medically reviewed on February 16, 2018. Multiple Sclerosis. Cancer / Onc ology. Liver Disease / Hepatitis.
What are the side effects of a syringe injection?
dizziness. pain, redness, or swelling at the point of injection. loss or thinning of hair. reduced appetite and weight loss. breathlessness and pale skin. being more likely to bruise and bleed. being more likely to pick up an infection. exhaustion and weakness.
Is interferon a natural substance?
As well as occurring naturally in the body, interferon is also used as a treatment for various health disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS), some types of cancer, and hepatitis C.
Does interferon affect heart health?
Trusted Source. looked at the effects of interferon on the heart health of people with chronic hepatitis. It found no significant negative effects. The authors suggested that interferon therapy might be used safely on people who did not have pre-existing heart disease.
Is interferon a part of the immune system?
Interferon is, therefore, a critical part of the immune system. There are three basic forms of interferon. These are alpha and beta, also known as type 1, while gamma is known as type 2. Each form of interferon has different effects on the body. As well as occurring naturally in the body, interferon is also used as a treatment for various health ...
How long does it take for interferon to work?
Interferon treatment for hepatitis C is considerably long – about 24 to 48 weeks – which can lead to a number of long term side effects. Over time these side effects can develop or become worse.
How do interferons work?
Interferons are a type of protein that naturally occur in your body. They work by communicating to the immune system that unwanted germs and cells are in your body. Killer immune cells are then triggered to fight the sickness.
What are the two types of strokes that can come from interferon treatment?
There are two types of stroke that can come from interferon treatment: ( 7) Ischemic – a blood clot lets less blood get to the brain. Hemorrhagic – a blood vessel in the brain bursts or leaks, leading to damaged tissue.
What is hepatitiscentral.com?
HepatitisCentral.com provides information regarding hepatitis and liver disease. Comments are available to the community in order to discuss these topics and obtain answers to questions through community members. The Editors at HepatitisCentral.com will not be responding to questions or comments posed in article comments.
What are the side effects of interferon?
Then there are some more severe side effects that the FDA makes note of directly on the box for interferon treatment, including autoimmune disease, mental disorders, increased infections, and strokes.
Can interferon cause long term side effects?
Common Side Effects of Interferons. The most common long term side-effects are usually not too severe. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and think they may be due to interferon treatment, you should consult with a physician.
Can interferons cause bloating?
Water retention, leading to bloating and puffiness. Swollen, aching joints. MENTAL DISORDERS – Treatment from interferons can lead to mood swings and mental disorders including severe depression. If you already suffer from mood disorders, interferons can worsen the condition. ( 1) Symptoms include:
Who made interferon?
Interferon can also be produced by recombinant mammalian cells. Before the early 1970s, large scale production of human interferon had been pioneered by Kari Cantell. He produced large amounts of human alpha interferon from large quantities of human white blood cells collected by the Finnish Blood Bank.
What is the effect of interferons on tumors?
Such suppression causes a decrease in tumor angiogenesis, a decrease in its vascularization and subsequent growth inhibition. Interferons, such as interferon gamma, directly activate other immune cells, such as macrophages and natural killer cells.
What type of interferon is released by cytotoxic T cells?
Interferon type II ( IFN-γ in humans): This is also known as immune interferon and is activated by Interleukin-12. Type II interferons are also released by cytotoxic T cells and type-1 T helper cells. However, they block the proliferation of type-2 T helper cells. The previous results in an inhibition of T h 2 immune response ...
What are the different types of interferons?
Types of interferon. Based on the type of receptor through which they signal, human interferons have been classified into three major types. Interferon type I: All type I IFNs bind to a specific cell surface receptor complex known as the IFN-α/β receptor ( IFNAR) that consists of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 chains.
How does interferon affect the immune system?
All interferons share several common effects: they are antiviral agents and they modulate functions of the immune system. Administration of Type I IFN has been shown experimentally to inhibit tumor growth in animals, but the beneficial action in human tumors has not been widely documented. A virus-infected cell releases viral particles that can infect nearby cells. However, the infected cell can protect neighboring cells against a potential infection of the virus by releasing interferons. In response to interferon, cells produce large amounts of an enzyme known as protein kinase R (PKR). This enzyme phosphorylates a protein known as eIF-2 in response to new viral infections; the phosphorylated eIF-2 forms an inactive complex with another protein, called eIF2B, to reduce protein synthesis within the cell. Another cellular enzyme, RNAse L —also induced by interferon action—destroys RNA within the cells to further reduce protein synthesis of both viral and host genes. Inhibited protein synthesis impairs both virus replication and infected host cells. In addition, interferons induce production of hundreds of other proteins—known collectively as interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs)—that have roles in combating viruses and other actions produced by interferon. They also limit viral spread by increasing p53 activity, which kills virus-infected cells by promoting apoptosis. The effect of IFN on p53 is also linked to its protective role against certain cancers.
How do viruses inhibit IFN?
Viruses that inhibit IFN signaling include Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV), dengue type 2 virus (DEN-2), SARS-CoV-2 and viruses of the herpesvirus family, such as human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV or HHV8). Viral proteins proven to affect IFN signaling include EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) and EBV nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA-2) from Epstein-Barr virus, the large T antigen of Polyomavirus, the E7 protein of Human papillomavirus (HPV), and the B18R protein of vaccinia virus. Reducing IFN-α activity may prevent signaling via STAT1, STAT2, or IRF9 (as with JEV infection) or through the JAK-STAT pathway (as with DEN-2 infection). Several poxviruses encode soluble IFN receptor homologs—like the B18R protein of the vaccinia virus—that bind to and prevent IFN interacting with its cellular receptor, impeding communication between this cytokine and its target cells. Some viruses can encode proteins that bind to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to prevent the activity of RNA-dependent protein kinases; this is the mechanism reovirus adopts using its sigma 3 (σ3) protein, and vaccinia virus employs using the gene product of its E3L gene, p25. The ability of interferon to induce protein production from interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) can also be affected. Production of protein kinase R, for example, can be disrupted in cells infected with JEV. Some viruses escape the anti-viral activities of interferons by gene (and thus protein) mutation. The H5N1 influenza virus, also known as bird flu, has resistance to interferon and other anti-viral cytokines that is attributed to a single amino acid change in its Non-Structural Protein 1 (NS1), although the precise mechanism of how this confers immunity is unclear.
What is the IFN?
Interferon type I (α/β/δ...) Interferons ( IFN s, / ˌɪntərˈfɪərɒn /) are a group of signaling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of several viruses. In a typical scenario, a virus-infected cell will release interferons causing nearby cells to heighten their anti-viral ...
Recommendations
- The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) recommends against the use of systemic interferon beta for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (AI).
- The Panel recommends against the use of interferon alfa or lambda for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19, except in a clinical trial (AIIa).
- The Panel recommends against the use of interferons for the treatment of nonhospitalized p…
- The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) recommends against the use of systemic interferon beta for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (AI).
- The Panel recommends against the use of interferon alfa or lambda for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19, except in a clinical trial (AIIa).
- The Panel recommends against the use of interferons for the treatment of nonhospitalized patients with mild or moderate COVID-19, except in a clinical trial (AIIa).
Rationale
- Many of the early studies that evaluated the use of systemic interferons for the treatment of COVID-19 were conducted in early 2020, before the widespread use of remdesivir and corticosteroids. In addition, these early studies administered interferons with other drugs that have since been shown to have no clinical benefit in people with COVID-19, such as lopinavir/rito…
Clinical Trials
- See ClinicalTrials.govfor a list of clinical trials that are evaluating the use of interferons for the treatment of COVID-19.
Adverse Effects
- The most frequent adverse effects of systemic interferon include flu-like symptoms, nausea, fatigue, weight loss, hematological toxicities, elevated transaminases, and psychiatric problems (e.g., depression, suicidal ideation). Interferon beta is better tolerated than interferon alfa, but it can cause similar types of adverse effects.6,7
Drug-Drug Interactions
- Additive toxicities may occur when systemic interferons are used concomitantly with other immunomodulators and chemotherapeutic agents.6,7
Considerations in Pregnancy
- According to analyses of data from several large pregnancy registries, exposure to interferon beta-1b prior to conception or during pregnancy does not lead to an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes (e.g., spontaneous abortion, congenital anomaly).8,9 Exposure to interferon beta-1b did not influence birth weight, height, or head circumference.10
Considerations in Children
- There are currently not enough data on the use of interferons to treat respiratory viral infections in children to make any recommendations for treating children with COVID-19.
Overview
Interferons are a group of signaling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of several viruses. In a typical scenario, a virus-infected cell will release interferons causing nearby cells to heighten their anti-viral defenses.
IFNs belong to the large class of proteins known as cytokines, molecules used f…
Interferon therapy
Interferon beta-1a and interferon beta-1b are used to treat and control multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disorder. This treatment may help in reducing attacks in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and slowing disease progression and activity in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.
Interferon therapy is used (in combination with chemotherapy and radiation) a…
Types of interferon
Based on the type of receptor through which they signal, human interferons have been classified into three major types.
• Interferon type I: All type I IFNs bind to a specific cell surface receptor complex known as the IFN-α/β receptor (IFNAR) that consists of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 chains. 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 whe…
Function
All interferons share several common effects: they are antiviral agents and they modulate functions of the immune system. Administration of Type I IFN has been shown experimentally to inhibit tumor growth in animals, but the beneficial action in human tumors has not been widely documented. A virus-infected cell releases viral particles that can infect nearby cells. However, the infected cell can protect neighboring cells against a potential infection of the virus by releasing i…
Induction of interferons
Production of interferons occurs mainly in response to microbes, such as viruses and bacteria, and their products. Binding of molecules uniquely found in microbes—viral glycoproteins, viral RNA, bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide), bacterial flagella, CpG motifs—by pattern recognition receptors, such as membrane bound toll like receptors or the cytoplasmic receptors RIG-I or MDA5, can trigger release of IFNs. Toll Like Receptor 3 (TLR3) is important for inducing interferons in r…
Downstream signaling
By interacting with their specific receptors, IFNs activate signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) complexes; STATs are a family of transcription factors that regulate the expression of certain immune system genes. Some STATs are activated by both type I and type II IFNs. However each IFN type can also activate unique STATs.
STAT activation initiates the most well-defined cell signaling pathway for all IFNs, the classical J…
Virus resistance to interferons
Many viruses have evolved mechanisms to resist interferon activity. They circumvent the IFN response by blocking downstream signaling events that occur after the cytokine binds to its receptor, by preventing further IFN production, and by inhibiting the functions of proteins that are induced by IFN. Viruses that inhibit IFN signaling include Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV), dengue type 2 virus (DEN-2), and viruses of the herpesvirus family, such as human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) …
Coronavirus response
Coronaviruses evade innate immunity during the first ten days of viral infection. In the early stages of infection, SARS-CoV-2 induces an even lower interferon type I (IFN-I) response than SARS-CoV, which itself is a weak IFN-I inducer in human cells. SARS-CoV-2 limits the IFN-III response as well. Reduced numbers of plasmacytoid dendritic cells with age is associated with increased COVID-19 severity, possibly because these cells are substantial interferon producers.