Interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) ELISA

Interferons: Overview and Applications

Interferons are proteins with antiviral properties secreted by cells in response to various stimuli. In mammals, the class I interferons form a superfamily consisting of three main gene families:

• Alpha Interferon (IFN-α)
• Beta Interferon (IFN-β)
• Omega Interferon (IFN-ω)

These proteins exhibit a wide range of biological effects. Initially named for their antiviral activity, interferons also possess anti-growth properties, which are observed in both natural human leukocyte interferons (IFN-α) and purified recombinant forms. They are known to:

• Stimulate Cytotoxic Activities: Enhance the cytotoxic functions of lymphocytes and macrophages.
• Increase Natural Killer Cell Activity: Boost the activity of natural killer cells.
• Enhance Tumor-Associated Antigens: Increase the expression of certain tumor-associated antigens.

Applications of Interferons:

• Disease Marker and Immunotherapeutic Applications:
• Viral Infections: During the acute phase of a viral infection, IFN-α levels rise significantly. These levels decrease during convalescence, correlating with viral infection resolution as indicated by seroconversion tests.
• Inflammatory and Autoimmune Disorders: Elevated IFN-α levels are observed in various inflammatory arthropathies, including juvenile polyarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, polychondritis, psoriatic arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and scleroderma. Increased levels are also noted in autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic vasculitis.
• Diagnostic Differentiation: Serum IFN-α levels can aid in differentiating between children with non-specific abdominal pain or mesenteric adenitis and those with acute appendicitis.
• Cancer Therapy:
• Antitumor Activity: Interferons have antiproliferative and antitumor effects, leading to their use as antitumor agents. For instance, local infiltration of IFN-α is being explored for resistant local recurrence in cancers like breast cancer and metastatic spread. Intrapleural administration of IFN-α can achieve measurable serum concentrations that correlate with the regression of malignant cells.

Overall, interferons play a significant role in both diagnostic and therapeutic settings, with applications extending from viral infections and autoimmune diseases to cancer treatment.

This ELISA Kit from Tecan IBL International is for research use only.

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