Recombinant Human Interferon-Gamma: Prospects for the Treatment of Chronic Epstein-Barr Viral Infection

Infection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is about 90% among people over the age of 40. The EBV causes a chronic infection that is characterized by chronic or recurrent symptoms and persists for a long time. Recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) has high clinical and antiviral efficacy in the treatment of herpesvirus infections. 110 patients with chronic EBV infection were examined. The patients were divided into three groups for different treatment regimens: Group 1—IFN-γ therapy (15 injections of Ingaron i/m, 500,000 IU every other day); Group 2—valaciclovir (Valtrex 500 mg × 2 times/day, orally for 2 months); Group 3—valganciclovir (Valcyte 450 mg × 2 times/day, orally for 2 months) and IFN-γ (10–20 injections of Ingaron i/m, 500,000 IU every other day). The best results were obtained in group 3–73.07% negative PCR. In this group, the combination of valganciclovir + IFN-γ was different. We showed that the efficacy of therapy in patients with chronic EBV is determined by the duration of INF-γ administration. We also determined spontaneous and induced production of IFN-α and -γ cytokines in serum and in lymphocyte culture. We demonstrated that in patients with an initially low level of induced IFN-γ, the production of this cytokine significantly increased in three months after the end of therapy

Recombinant Interferon Gamma: Influence on the Cytotoxic Activity of NK Cells in Patients with Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus Infection

NK cells play an important role in combating viral infections. In this study, we examined the effect of therapy with recombinant interferon gamma (Ingaron) on cytotoxic activity of NK cells. Sixty patients with chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection (CEBVI) were examined. All patients were treated with Ingaron at a dose of 500,000 IU every other day IM. Initially, they received 10 injections of Ingaron followed by a 10-day break to assess the dynamics of clinical and laboratory parameters. Then, the treatment was continued with five injections of Ingaron. In total, each patient received 15 injections or a total dose of 7,500,000 IU. The administration of recombinant interferon gamma at a total dose of 5,000,000 IU stimulated spontaneous and induced degranulation of NK cells in patients with CEBVI. After a full course of 7,500,000 IU of recombinant interferon gamma, CD107a expression on NK cells decreased but remained higher than before the onset of therapy and exceeded reference values. Thus, the maximum activity of NK cells in the peripheral blood of patients with CEBVI was reached 10 days after the administration of Ingaron at a total dose of 5,000,000 IU

Perspective Chapter: The Role of Interferon Gamma in Clinical Medicine

Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) is one of the key factors of both innate and adaptive immune response that promotes differentiation of naive CD4+ cells into effector Th1 T cells producing the main mediators of cellular immunity against viral and intracellular bacterial infections, and specific cytotoxic immunity through the interaction of T cells with antigen-presenting cells and macrophage activation. The clinical importance of IFN-γ includes its medical use to treat and prevent various viral and bacterial infections. IFN-γ has a direct antiviral effect on infected cells, activates local infiltrating dendritic cells, macrophages and NK cells, modulates the differentiation and maturation of T and B cells, and enhances inflammation and antiviral functions. Immunoregulatory effect of IFN-γ plays one of the essential roles in the regulation of adaptive immune response in patients with tuberculosis infection and cancer. Producing IFN-γ by T cells increases the efficiency of infiltrated phagocytic cells, by stimulating NO and maintaining local host defense during tuberculosis infection. The direct antitumor effect of IFN-γ revealed in several experimental models has numerous mechanisms for the effect of development. IFN-γ has crucial potential for enhancing any antiviral, antimycobacterial, and specific antitumor therapies