title: Biological properties of recombinant alpha-interferons: 40th anniversary of the discovery of interferons.
abstract: IFNs were first described as potent antiviral agents 40 years ago, and recombinant IFN-alpha2a and IFN-alpha2b were approved for the treatment of hairy cell leukemia just 11 years ago. Today, alpha-IFNs are approved worldwide for the treatment of a variety of malignancies and virologic diseases. Although the exact mechanism of action of IFN-alpha in the treatment of such diseases is not fully understood, many advances have been made in the characterization of the physicochemical and diverse biological properties of this highly pleiotropic cytokine. Here we review recent developments in our understanding of the antiviral and immunoregulatory properties of IFN-alpha, the nature of the multisubunit IFN-alpha receptor, and the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction. Where available, we have included comparative data on recombinant alpha-IFNs derived from both naturally occurring and nonnaturally occurring synthetic genes. We also review clinical data and data on the side effects and antigenicity of different sources of recombinant alpha-IFNs in humans. These latter topics are of clinical interest, because they may potentially affect the efficacy of these various products. Hopefully, what is already known about IFN will prompt further exploration into the mechanism(s) of action of IFN-alpha and thus deliver new applications for this prototypic cytokine, whose full therapeutic potential is yet to be realized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis 38163, USA.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pfeffer
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dinarello
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Herberman
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Borden
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bordens
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Nagabhushan
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Trotta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pestka
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000502:physiology; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D011487:Protein Conformation; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007370:Interferon Type I; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta; D015232:Dinoprostone