Interferons

Abstract

Interferons have proved to be more complicated substances than they first appeared to be but, so far have failed to live up to the, probably over enthusiastic and optimistic, role envisaged for them in clinical medicine. There can be no doubt that interferon is not the panacea many believed it could be. However, successful prophylaxis of some viral infections, halting of the disease process in others and regression of certain tumours has been achieved by the use of interferons. We are only at the beginning of an understanding of these substances and, as with any new drug, there is the need to determine the optimal dosage and identify those conditions in which it will have a beneficial effect. To date work has, by necessity, been confined to relatively impure preparations or pure preparations of interferon α. The exact performance of pure interferon β, interferon α sub-types and interferon γ has yet to be determined and it is possible, certainly with interferon γ, that one or more, either alone or in combination, will prove a more effective therapeutic agent than any tested so far. An enormous amount of work has been performed with interferons which has provided much useful information on many basic reactions at the molecular level but without providing a full explanation of how interferons work. A better understanding in this area could allow a more rational approach to interferon therapy.