Sketchy Pharm: Interferon Alpha, Beta, Gamma

Question 1

Cytokines such as the interferons are released from ________________.

Answer 1

virally infected host cells (like the ill arcade manager handing out Cyto-Coins)

Question 2

___________ upregulate interferon synthesis.

Answer 2

Interleukins

Think of the arcade clerk named Luke!

Question 3

Interferon alpha is used to treat what infectious diseases?

Answer 3

HBV and HCV

Think of the Pac-Man machine with alphas for the A’s. The symbol is a hippo!

Question 4

Other than hepatitis, interferon alpha is also used to treat what five diseases?

Answer 4

• Hairy cell leukemia (hairy, ball-shaped villain)
• Malignant melanoma (pigmented ghost villain)
• Kaposi’s sarcoma (Kate’s Posies on the side and in the game)
• Condyloma accuminata (ACCUMulated tokens in the jar)
• Renal cell carcinoma (crab in the clear, kidney-shaped machine)

Question 5

What are the side effects of interferon alpha?

Answer 5

• Flu-like symptoms: malaise, fever, fatigue, cough (kid sweating, red, and tired on the machine)
• Neurologic symptoms: retinopathy, tinnitus
• Myelosuppression (the maze that Pac-Man is going through is bone-shaped and he’s eating RBCs!!)
• Lupus (wolf stuffed animal falling out of machine)

Question 6

Interferon beta is used to treat ______________.

Answer 6

multiple sclerosis (like the slogan on the Beta Invaders game: “Combat Lesions Through Time and Space!”)

Question 7

How does interferon gamma work?

Answer 7

It activates macrophages and allows them to burst granulomas, which is why it is used in CGD.

(Think of the asteroids breaking open in Gammaga.)