| type I interferon | <chemical> Interferon secreted by leukocytes, fibroblasts, or lymphoblasts in response to viruses or interferon inducers other than mitogens, antigens, or allo-antigens. They include alpha- and beta-interferons (interferon-alpha and interferon-beta). Pharmacological action: antineoplastic agent, antiviral agents. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| fibroblast interferon | <cytokine> One of the type I interferons produced by fibroblasts in response to stimulation by live or inactivated virus or by double-stranded RNA. It is a cytokine with antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulating activity. Synonym: fibroblast interferon. Pharmacological action: adjuvants, immunologic, antineoplastic agent, antiviral agents. Chemical name: Interferon-alphaB (human leukocyte protein moiety reduced) (12 Dec 1998) |
| leukocyte interferon | <cytokine> One of the type I interferons produced by peripheral blood leukocytes or lymphoblastoid cells when exposed to live or inactivated virus, double-stranded RNA, or bacterial products. It is the major interferon produced by virus-induced leukocyte cultures and, in addition to its pronounced antiviral activity, causes activation of NK cells. It is used experimentally in the treatment of hairy-cell leukaemia. A number of different subtypes exist that are elaborated by leukocytes in response to viral infection or stimulation with double-stranded RNA; IFN-alpha-2A and -2B are protein products made by recombinant DNA techniques and are used as antineoplastic agents. See: interferon-alpha 2a, interferon-alpha 2b Synonym: leukocyte interferon. Pharmacological action: antineoplastic agent, antiviral agent. (20 Sep 2002) |