title: [Interferon gamma: a Janus-faced mediator in inflammation].
abstract: A survey is given of the immunomodulatory effects of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in inflammation. IFN-gamma influences the activity of macrophages, granulocytes, B-lymphocytes, suppressor-T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells as well as the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, bone resorption, collagen synthesis and expression of HLA class II antigens. Furthermore, the production of IFN-gamma in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases is described as well as the recent in vivo investigations concerning induction and inhibition of inflammation by IFN-gamma. Based on these investigations a hypothesis is presented which offers an explanation for the contradictory results concerning the effects of IFN-gamma in inflammation. According to this hypothesis IFN-gamma takes part in the elicitation of an inflammatory reaction. As soon as a high inflammation activity is reached the reaction is inhibited via a negative feedback. Therefore, exogenously applied IFN-gamma has a stimulating effect if inflammation activity is low. In contrary, IFN-gamma inhibits this reaction if activity is high. The consequences resulting from this dual mode of action for the treatment of different diseases with IFN-gamma are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Firma Bioferon biochemische Substanzen GmbH & Co., Laupheim.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brzoska
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Obert
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001862:Bone Resorption; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013189:SRS-A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D011453:Prostaglandins; D013189:SRS-A; D007975:Leukotriene B4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D003094:Collagen
vernacular_title: Interferon gamma: ein janusköpfiger Mediator bei Entzündungen.