PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY T HE PHARMACOLOGY of interferons has been studied with human leukocyte interferon and with mouse and rabbit interferons. These have a short half-life in the blood, irrespective of the route of administration, though the most rapid clearance follows the intravenous route; intramuscular injections result in peak blood levels after 2-4 hr, lasting for 4-6 hr. With intra...

The European School of Oncology has formed a study group to consider the present status of interferons in oncology. This position paper summarizes the discussions and conclusions of the first meeting of this study group.

Innate-like B-1a lymphocytes rapidly redistribute to regional mediastinal lymph nodes (MedLNs) during influenza infection to generate protective IgM. Here we demonstrate that influenza infection-induced type I interferons directly stimulate body cavity B-1 cells and are a necessary signal required for B-1 cell accumulation in MedLNs. Vascular mimetic flow chamber studies show that type I interf...

Virus infection of mammalian cells is sensed by pattern recognition receptors and leads to an innate immune response that restricts virus replication and induces adaptive immunity. In response, viruses have evolved many countermeasures that enable them to replicate and be transmitted to new hosts, despite the host innate immune response. Poxviruses, such as vaccinia virus (VACV), have large DNA...

Human fibroblast interferon binds to L-tryptophan, D-tryptophan, L-phenylalanine, and L-tyrosine, all immobilized directly to cyanogen bromide-activated agarose, as well as to L-tryptophan and D-tryptophan methyl ester, both immobilized via molecular arms. The retention of fibroblast interferon is selective and results in a 2300-fold purification. Human leukocyte interferon binds neither to L-t...

Four hybrid human leukocyte interferon (LeIF or IFN-alpha) genes have been constructed by in vitro recombination of LeIF-A (IFN-alpha 2) and LeIF-D (IFN-alpha 1) genes at common restriction endonuclease sites located within their coding regions. These hybrid genes have been expressed in E. coli under trp promoter control. The interferons produced [LeIF-AD (BglII), -AD (PvuII), -DA (BglII), -DA ...

Interferon (IFN) in combination with ribavirin has been the standard of care (SOC) for chronic hepatitis C for the past few decades. Although the current SOC lacks the desired efficacy, and 4 new direct-acting antiviral agents have been recently approved, interferons are still likely to remain the cornerstone of therapy for some time. Moreover, as an important cytokine system of innate immunity...

The mechanism by which life-long immunity to viruses persists is a matter of some controversy. Interferons induced by subsequent unrelated viral infections may propagate existing memory T cells non-specifically.