Use of Interferon Systems in Immunotoxicology

Abstract

Interferons are a group of proteins that were originally described as being produced in response to virus infections and acting by making virgin cells refractory to virus infection. It has recently become apparent that interferons are much more complex than originally as described. There are now several types of interferons. Alpha interferon is primarily produced by leukocytes in response to virus or double-stranded RNA-(polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid=poly I:C). Beta interferon is primarily produced by fibroblasts in response to virus or poly I:C. Therefore, unless purified, interferon produced by fibroblasts after poly I:C challenge contains a minor alpha component and a major beta component. Gamma (type II immune) interferon is produced as a lymphokine as part of an immune response of lymphoid cells to antigen or mitogen. Alpha and beta interferons appear to have some structural and functional similarities but gamma interferon appears to be a distinct entity.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1983
Accession Number
ADP001963

Entities

People

  • Gerald Sonnenfeld

Organizations

  • United States Environmental Protection Agency

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acids
  • Animal Diseases
  • Aromatic Polycyclic Hydrocarbons
  • Azo Compounds
  • Carcinogens
  • Cells
  • Chemistry
  • Culture Techniques
  • Fibroblasts
  • Interferon
  • Materials
  • Neoplasms
  • New York
  • Production
  • Proteins
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Tissue Culture

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Medicine

Readers

  • Breast cancer cell signaling and growth regulation.
  • Immunology
  • Virology (or Medical Virology).