Cytokines affecting mononuclear phagocytes were screened for activation of human macrophages to secrete H2O2 and kill toxoplasmas. In contrast to recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN gamma), the following factors, tested in partially or highly purified form and over a wide range of concentrations, did not augment these functions: native interferon-alpha (nIFN alpha), rIFN alpha A, rIFN alpha D, r...

The T-lymphoblastoid cell line CEM, persistently infected with herpes simplex virus type 1, has been used to examine the antiviral efficacy of human alpha interferon and acyclovir, both alone and in combination. Acyclovir and interferon each produced dose-dependent decreases in virus titer at concentration ranges of 1 to 100 microM (approximately 0.225 to 22.5 micrograms/ml) and 10 to 10,000 U/...

BACKGROUND Interferon-alpha has been successfully used for induction of remission in patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome, but data on its ability to prevent relapses and its safety during long-term use are lacking. OBJECTIVES To examine the safety and efficacy of interferon-alpha for mainten-ance of remission in Churg-Strauss syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a prospective open-label long-...

It is well established that interferon-alpha can induce non-cytotoxic intracellular suppression of hepatitis B virus replication, but the mechanisms involved are unclear. Cell culture studies to characterize these mechanisms are restricted, in part because hepatitis B virus replicates almost exclusively in liver-derived cells. To overcome this limitation we used a cytomegalovirus promoter-contr...

BACKGROUND Type I interferons have pleiotropic effects on host cells, including inhibiting telomerase in lymphocytes and antiviral activity. We tested the hypothesis that long-term interferon treatment would result in significant reduction in average telomere length in peripheral blood T lymphocytes. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Using a flow cytometry-based telomere length assay on peripheral b...

Alpha interferons at doses of 3-9 MU subcutaneously, three to seven times/week, have been administered to 32 patients with malignant endocrine pancreatic tumors. The objective biochemical response rate was 63 percent with a median duration of 20.5 months. Significant reduction of tumor size was only noticed in 20 percent of the patients. Alpha interferon administered to 111 patients with malign...

Hepatitis C virus infection has been associated with a variety of extrahepatic disorders. We report four patients with membranous glomerulonephritis and hepatitis C virus infection. In contrast to patients previously reported with HCV infection and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, these patients have normal or minimally reduced complement levels and no evidence of rheumatoid factor or ...

A sister (aged 6 years) and brother (aged 8 years) presented four months apart with severe molluscum contagiosum. Both children demonstrated clinical and laboratory evidence of combined immunodeficiency. The extent of skin involvement by molluscum contagiosum precluded conventional treatment as well as intralesional interferon alpha (IFN alpha). Both subjects responded well to subcutaneous IFN ...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Combination therapy with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) plus ribavirin is more efficacious than IFN-alpha monotherapy in previously untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C and patients with IFN-alpha relapse. Only limited data are available in IFN-alpha non-responders. In a multicenter trial we therefore evaluated the efficacy of combination therapy in IFN-alpha-resistant chro...

The treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has evolved in the past 15 years and combination of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin is its current standard therapy. However, several side effects are commonly observed and frequently lead to transient or definitive interruption of treatment. Although sarcoidosis in its systemic or cutaneous form is a very rare side effect in such circumstances, so...