title: Interferons and their use in persistent viral infections.
abstract: In 2007, the world celebrated the 50th anniversary of the discovery of interferon (IFN) by Isaacs and Lindenmann. Subsequently, the IFN-alpha gene was cloned, fully sequenced and IFN-alpha was produced in recombinant form. Recombinant IFN-alpha is now used as the basis for treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection and can also be used to treat certain forms of chronic hepatitis B virus infections. IFNs have also been used in other viral infections, although with less success. The antiviral mechanisms of IFNs are reviewed in this chapter as well as the utility of IFNs in the treatment of persistent viral infections.
authors.affiliation: French National Reference Center for Viral Hepatitis B, C and delta, Department of Virology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, 51 avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94010 Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chevaliez
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pawlotsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000502:physiology; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007372:Interferons