Cytokines, interferons and toxicities in chemotherapy

Cytokines

Cytokines are naturally sourced substances released from stimulated cells of the immune system. There is a big part in mediating the game of the immune system and may affect the growth and metastasis of cancer cells. Cytokines include interferons, colony-stimulating factors, interleukins, and TNF. The development or administration of one cytokine induces the development and response of other cytokines.

Interferons

Interferons really are a family of glycoproteins produced by the body in reaction to infections and biologic inducers. Studies have demonstrated that interferons can hinder viral replication and possess antiproliferative and im-munomodulatory biologic properties. You will find three primary kinds of interferons: alpha, beta, and gamma.

Alpha interferon is produced largely by leukocytes in reaction to viral, bacterial, or tumor cell stimulation. Beta interferon comes by fibroblasts and epithelial cells in reaction to viruses and foreign nucleic acids. Gamma interferon is made by T lymphocytes and natural killer cells being an integral component of the immune response.

Interferons influence the immune system by binding to some cell surface receptor and inducing a cascade of biologic events. Interferons have antiviral characteristics: they are able to protect an infected cell from invasion by another virus and may indirectly inhibit viral DNA replication, which hinders multiplication of the virus with other cells. Interferons demonstrate antiproliferative effects by inhibiting the development and division of cancer cells.

Additionally they stimulate the expression of human lymphocyte antigens and tumor-associated antigens of tumor cell surfaces, making the tumor cell more apparent. Interferons influence immunomodulatory biologic effects by directly getting together with T lymphocytes to stimulate or inhibit producing other cytokines. These cytokines can then signal natural killer cells along with other lymphocytes to identify and destroy cancer cells. The interferons have overlapping but clearly distinct biologic activities and for that reason can't be interchanged.

Toxicities

The toxicities related to alpha interferon are dose- and route-dependent. The most typical negative effects are flulike syndrome and fatigue. Flulike syndrome includes fever, chills, malaise, myalgia, and headache. Fatigue is often the dose-limiting side-effect.

Ability to tolerate toxicities may develop with subsequent doses, and toxicities generally subside having a dose adjustment or discontinuation. The interferon could be better tolerated if started in a low dose and escalated in small increments. It might be essential to lessen the dose of the interferon due to the toxicities.

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