Interferon

Question 1

What are interferons and when are they usually released?

Answer 1

cytokines released by the body in response to viral infections and neoplasia

Question 2

What receptors do Interferon alpha and beta bind to VS that of interferon gamma?

Answer 2

IFN-alpha and IFN-beta bind to type 1 receptors
IFN-gamma binds only to type 2 receptors.

Question 3

What cells release interferon alpha?

Answer 3

Leuocytes

Question 4

When is interferon alpha used as treatment?

Answer 4

hepatitis B & C
Kaposi’s sarcoma
metastatic renal cell cancer
hairy cell leukaemia

Question 5

What cells release interferon beta

Answer 5

fibroblasts

Question 6

Uses of interferon beta treatment

Answer 6

reduces the frequency of exacerbations in patients with relapsing-remitting MS

Question 7

what immune cells release interferon gamma?

Answer 7

predominately natural killer cells. Also by T helper cells

Question 8

Uses of interferon gamma

Answer 8

may be useful in chronic granulomatous disease and osteopetrosis