Immunogenicity of Recombinant Therapeutic interferon alpha

Abstract

Therapeutic recombinant interferons and cytokines are being used to treat different diseases but these proteins can start immunogenic reactions. These reactions neutralize the effect of therapeutic proteins and make them useless. There are many factors responsible for causing and effecting immunogenicity including dosage, route of administration, genetic status, and polymorphism and Allergic responses. The body's first immune response against recombinant therapeutic cytokines is mediated by innate system, subsequently activating the adaptive immune system. The key factors in immunogenicity are the glycosylation and aggregated structure of therapeutic protein that distinguishes the protein/cytokine from self-proteins. There are many ways to reduce immunogenicity like to decrease the number of epitopes for T-cells or by screening the history of allergies. IFNs are basically proteins in nature many of which are related both in 3D structure and amino acid sequences. Recombinant Interferons are widely used these days against viral infections and cancers. In this review the antiproliferative activity and the effects of various recombinant human interferons on the cytotoxic and cytostatic activity of natural killer cells and monocytes are discussed in detail.