Author/Editor		Koren, S; Fleischmann, WR Jr
Title		Chronobiology of the interferon system
Translated title		Kronobiologija interferonskega sistema
Type		članek
Source		Zdrav Vestn
Vol. and No.		Letnik 63, št. Suppl 2
Publication year		1994
Volume		str. II-27-II-3
Language		eng
Abstract		The interferon (IFN) system consists of three different IFN types (alpha, beta, and gamma) which operate through a coordinate series of cellular events leading to antiviral, antitumor and immunomodulatory responses. Sporadic data from clinical studies have suggested that there may be a time-dependent variation in the severity of the most common toxic side effects of IFNs in man. More detailed chronobiological studies in a murine experimental model have revealed that various activities of IFNs rhythmically change during the circadian period of approximatelly 24 hours. Circadian rhythmicity in antitumor as well as myelosuppressive activity of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma was discovered and characterized. The time points at which IFN alpha exerted its maximum and minimum antitumor effect were different from those obserued for IFN-gamma. In an analogous way, the time points of maximum and minimum myelosuppressive effect were different for the two IFN types. The knowledge of predictable rhythmic changes in the susceptibility of organisms to IFNs could provide important information to improve the therapeutic index of IFNs in terms of increased efficacy and reduced toxicity.
Descriptors		MELANOMA, EXPERIMENTAL INTERFERON-ALPHA INTERFERON TYPE I LEUKOCYTES CIRCADIAN RHYTHM LEUKOCYTE COUNT CHRONOBIOLOGY MICE ANIMALS, LABORATORY