INTERFERON

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does interferon mean? 

• INTERFERON (noun)
  The noun INTERFERON has 1 sense:

1. an antiviral protein produced by cells that have been invaded by a virus; inhibits replication of the virus

  Familiarity information: INTERFERON used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INTERFERON (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An antiviral protein produced by cells that have been invaded by a virus; inhibits replication of the virus

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("interferon" is a kind of...):

antiviral; antiviral agent; antiviral drug (any drug that destroys viruses)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "interferon"):

alpha-interferon (a form of interferon that is produced endogenously and commercially for its pharmacological effects (including regulation of the immune system and antiviral and antineoplastic effects))

beta-interferon (a form of interferon that is produced by fibroblasts and have antiviral effects; used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis)

gamma-interferon (a form of interferon that is produced by T cells and macrophages; involved in the activation of phagocytes)

 Context examples 

This gene plays a role in GTP hydrolysis, interferon signaling and apoptosis.

(MX1 Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

This leads to an activation of natural killer cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes and to interferon gamma (INF-g) synthesis, thereby attaining an anti-angiogenic effect.

(Mycobacterial Cell Wall-DNA Complex, NCI Thesaurus)

Increased amount of interferon gamma suggests a prior or existing M. tuberculosis infection.

(Mycobacterium tuberculosis Interferon Gamma Response, NCI Thesaurus)

Upon administration, IFN-alpha subtypes bind to cell surface IFN-alpha receptors (IFNARs), resulting in an upregulation of interferon stimulated genes and related protein products.

(Multi-subtype Natural Human Leukocyte Interferon Alpha, NCI Thesaurus)

Although the mechanism of its anti-tumor activity is unclear, immunization with BCG vaccine likely activates a Th1 cytokine response that includes the induction of interferon.

(BCG Vaccine, NCI Thesaurus)

An oral immunostimulant that causes the body to produce interferon and other substances.

(Bropirimine, NCI Thesaurus)

A proprietary preparation of natural human interferon alpha (IFN alpha) with potential immunomodulatory and antineoplastic activities.

(Natural IFN-alpha OPC-18, NCI Thesaurus)

Interferons alfa bind to specific cell-surface receptors, leading to the transcription and translation of genes whose protein products mediate antiviral, antiproliferative, anticancer and immune-modulating effects.

(Peginterferon alfa-2a, NCI Thesaurus)

The biological activity of this agent is derived from its interferon alpha-2b protein moiety.

(Peginterferon alfa-2b, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 4, may play a role in the negative regulation of signaling by type I interferon.

(NLRP4 wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)