The Effect of Malignant Epithelial Tumors, Surgical Therapy, and Bacterial Sepsis Upon Various Parameters of Interferon System

Abstract

The influence of tumor load, surgical trauma, and bacterial sepsis upon the ability of patient's peripheral leukocytes to produce interferon-a (IFNa), the detectable serum IFN levels and circulating serum IFN inactivators were studied. Peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with solid tumors had significantly reduced ability to produce IFN-a. Complete resectional surgery resulted in restoration of their ability to produce normal IFN-a levels. Circulating IFN levels were detectable in 70% of patients with localized disease while only in 20% of patients with metastatic disease. Interferon-a activators were detected in 45 % of all patients. Both circulating interferon and IFN-a inactivators became undetectable upon tumor resection. Surgical trauma is accompanied by a transient but definite decrease in IFN-a production capability. Bacterial sepsis during postoperative days, in patients who successfully recovered, was definitely accompanied by increase in IFN-a production capability. Our findings suggest that advanced malignant epithelial tumors have an adverse effect upon the patient's ability to produce interferon and are often accompanied by the presence of circulating serum interferon inactivators. These effects can be reversed by surgical resection of the malignant neoplasm.

Mild hyperthermia modulates biological activities of interferons

“…The current observation that mild hyperthermia signi® cantly enhances interferon antiviral and antiproliferative activities may have a direct bearing upon utilization of interferons in the clinic. Some of the cancer patients and patients with advanced HIV disease have a weaker immune system (Hakim 1979, Ikossi-O'Connor and Chadha 1984, Ardestani et al 1999, and their own body evidently may not produce enough interferons to be therapeutically eOE ective. Consequently, these patients have to be treated with exogenous sources of interferons, Also, in many instances, it is necessary that patients be treated with high doses of interferon and for a prolonged period.…”

Tissue chambers — a useful model for in vivo studies of cytokine production in the pig

“…In contrast, markedly higher IFN-(Y levels were noticed after ADV-PK15 induction in the bacterially infected tissue chamber. The magnitude of the IFN-a response can be increased in vitro by addition of other cytokines to the cell cultures (Cederblad and Aim, 1991;Charley et al, 1994;Wattrang et al, 1995) and enhanced IFN production has been observed during bacterial infections in man (Ikossi-O'Connor and Chadha, 1984). Thus, 'priming' effects on the IFN-a producing cells by inflammatory cytokines could explain the high IFN-a levels in the infected tissue chamber.…”