Medical Definition of Interferon-alpha

1. One of the type I interferons produced by peripheral blood leukocytes or lymphoblastoid cells when exposed to live or inactivated virus, double-stranded RNA, or bacterial products. It is the major interferon produced by virus-induced leukocyte cultures and, in addition to its pronounced antiviral activity, causes activation of NK cells. It is used experimentally in the treatment of hairy-cell leukaemia. A number of different subtypes exist that are elaborated by leukocytes in response to viral infection or stimulation with double-stranded RNA; IFN-alpha-2A and -2B are protein products made by recombinant DNA techniques and are used as antineoplastic agents. See: interferon-alpha 2a, interferon-alpha 2b Synonym: leukocyte interferon. Pharmacological action: antineoplastic agent, antiviral agent. (20 Sep 2002)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Interferon-alpha

interferents
interferer
interferers
interferes
interfering
interferingly
interferogram
interferograms
interferometer
interferometers
interferometric
interferometrically
interferometrist
interferometry
interferon
interferon-alpha (current term)
interferon-alpha 2a
interferon-alpha 2b
interferon-b2
interferon-beta
interferon-gamma
interferon inducers
interferon type I
interferon type II
interferons
interfertile
interfertility
interfiber
interfibrillar
interfibrillary

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