INTERFERONS AND INTERFERON INACTIVATORS IN AIDS, ARC AND IN CANCER PATIENTS NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1988. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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INTERFERONS AND INTERFERON INACTIVATORS IN AIDS, ARC AND IN CANCER PATIENTS

The Biology of the Interferon System 1986. Cantell K, Schellekens H, eds. Boston, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, p. 423-7, 1987.. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/88638687
Chadha KC; Ambrus JL; Ikossi MG; Roswell Park Memorial Inst., Buffalo, NY

Abstract: The natural human interferon (IFN) system is reviewed, including the IFN system in healthy adults, cancer patients, and patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex (ARC), and the modulation of IFN production capacity of WBCs. WBCs of cancer patients have a depressed capacity to synthesize IFN-alpha. This ability is restored to normal levels upon complete surgical resection of the neoplasm. Cancer patients often have detectable levels of serum IFNs and IFN inactivators. Patients with ARC have no detectable serum IFN inactivators. As the disease progresses to full-blown AIDS, however, such inactivators appear. Monitoring serum IFN inactivators can be a useful marker for the early diagnosis of AIDS. In in vitro studies, the depressed ability of WBCs of low producers to produce IFN-alpha can be enhanced by drugs such as indomethacin and pentoxifylline when these are added to IFN-production media. These drugs are known to suppress cAMP and prostaglandins without having detrimental effects on the antiviral or antiproliferative activity of IFNs. This suggests that, perhaps in a clinical situation, the benefits of IFN treatment could be maximized by combining IFN administration with either of these two drugs to decrease the undesirable effects of prostaglandins produced by tumor cells. (6 Refs)
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*IMMUNOLOGY Adult Aged AIDS-Related Complex/*IMMUNOLOGY Female Human Immune Tolerance/DRUG EFFECTS Indomethacin/PHARMACOLOGY Interferon Type I/*BIOSYNTHESIS Leukocytes/IMMUNOLOGY Male Middle Age Neoplasms/*IMMUNOLOGY Pentoxifylline/PHARMACOLOGY Sarcoma, Kaposi's/IMMUNOLOGY MEETING PAPER

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDimmunologyadultagedaids-relatedcomplex/KWDimmunologyfemalehumanimmunetolerance/drugeffectsindomethacin/pharmacologyinterferontypei/KWDbiosynthesisleukocytes/immunologymalemiddleageneoplasms/KWDimmunologypentoxifylline/pharmacologysarcoma,kaposi's/immunologymeetingpaper
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M8820380

Copyright © 1988 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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