Interferons Mediate Antiviral Immunity with Special Reference to Influ-enza Virus

摘要

Background: Interferons (IFNs) are functional proteins of vertebrate cells that have beenconserved throughout evolution. Antiviral response in cells and uncontrolled cell proliferation of lym-phocytes and macrophages are influenced by IFNs. B and T cell functions are influenced by these mole-cules in vitro and in vivo. These facts are confirmed by the effects on different conditions: antibodiesproduction, T cells' cytotoxicity, allograft survival, delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions. Some IFNsare produced as a result of antigen recognition by T cells, and in turn, they modulate Natural Killer(NK) cell and phagocyte activities and functions. On the other hand, there are viral infections withoutimmunological specificity, which involve IFNs and interfere in immune reactions. Some clinical appli-cations of IFNs have been implemented in the recent years, for example for hepatitis B and C treatment. Conclusion: However, in this review, emphasis will be placed on the use of IFNs for the possibletreatment of seasonal influenza viruses that have specificity with the upper respiratory tract. IFNs pre-vent highly pathogenic influenza viruses to disseminate to the lung, assuming their use as an emergencydrug against pandemic forms of influenza.