Name: Interferon g
Class: Immunostimulant
Mechanism: Binds to cell-surface receptors ® activation of NK cells and Mfs, promotion of conversion to TH1 cells.
Absorption:
Dist.:
Metabolism.:
Excretion, t½:
Toxicity/S.E.s: Fever w/chills; dose-related leukopenia, thrombocytopenia; fatigue, malaise, anorexia, weight loss, alopecia, transient elevation of liver enzymes. High doses may ® transient & reversible nephrotoxicity.
Utility: Used to treat for chronic hepatitis B, virally induced tumors, recurrent varicella zoster, HSV keratitis, Kaposi’s sarcoma, hairy cell leukemia, cutaneous T cell lymphoma.
Special Features: Produced by memory TH1 cells and NK cells. Interferon production is induced by dsRNA (poly I:C), ampligen (mismatched nucleotides), LPS.