The Interferon System (2^nd Ed., 2nd ed. 1981. Softcover reprint of the original 2nd ed. 1981)

This book is an update of Interferon, published in 1969 by Dr. Jan Vilcek. The field of interferon research has since expanded from its former narrow treatment of interferon strictly as an antiviral substance, such that The Interferon System now encompasses cellular modulations ranging from immune alterations to cell proliferative restrictions to antitumor activities. The steadily increasing number of these non-antiviral functions of interferons emphasizes the need for a comprehensive - and critical - review of the entire literature of interferon studies. The text, with its supporting bibliography, provides complete coverage of interferon research. A newcomer to the area should find here all the informa­ tion necessary to understand why interferon, which has been studied for more than twenty years and which originally stirred excitement over its clinical pros­ pects, is still inspiring speculation about this potential. For those already fa­ miliar with the seemingly perpetual clinical promise of interferon, this volume should serve as a valuable reference source, the largest bibliography on the subject ever to appear under one cover. Clearly, this book should be considered only as an introduction to the topic and as a reference source; most questions about the interferon system are still unanswered - even unasked. Hopefully this summation and critical evalua­ tion of work done to date will stimulate and facilitate further progress.

I. Introduction.- A. An Historical Perspective.- B. An Overview of the Interferon System.- C. The Interferon System in vivo.- II. Interferon Assays.- A. General Considerations.- B. Dose-Response Relationships.- C. Assay Methods.- D. Factors Influencing Interferon Assays.- E. Choice of an Assay System.- F. Reference Interferons and Standard Interferons.- III. Interferon Inducers.- A. Animal Viral Inducers.- B. Non-Viral Inducers of Interferons.- C. Inferferon (?) Inducers.- D. Uninduced (Spontaneous) Interferons.- IV. Induction Mechanisms.- A. The Interferon Induction-Production Curve.- B. Mechanism of Induction by Viruses.- C. Alternative Induction Mechanism Hypotheses.- V. The Genetics of Interferon Production.- A. Hybrid-Cell Analyses of Interferon Production.- B. Chromosomal Assignments for Interferon Production in Aneuploid Cells.- C. Epigenetic Complications of Assessing Genetic Contributions to Interferon Production.- D. Genetics of Interferon Production in vivo.- VI. Interferon Production.- A. Interferon Production at the Cellular and Molecular Level.- B. Interferon Production at the Organism Level.- C. Mass Production of Interferons.- VII. Interferons: Their Purification and Characterization.- A. Defining Interferons.- B. Purification of Interferons.- C. Characterization of Interferons.- VIII. The Genetics of Interferon Action.- A. Hybrid-Cell Analyses of Interferon Action.- B. Chromosomal Assignments for Interferon Actions in Aneuploid Cells.- C. Role of Chromosome 21 in Interferon Actions: Interferon Binding.- D. Epigenetic Complications to Assessing Genetic Contributions to Interferon Actions.- IX. Mechanisms of Antiviral Acfions of Interferons.- A. General Considerations of Antiviral Actions of Interferons.- B. Antiviral Mechanisms: Sites of Interferon Actions Against Viruses.- C. An Oversimplified Summation of Interferon-Induced Antiviral Actions.- X. Non-Antiviral Actions of Interferons.- A. The Breadth of Interferon Action: The Expanding Realm of Interferonology.- B. Inhibition of Non-Viral Agents.- C. Priming.- D. Blocking.- E. Cell-Multiplication-Inhibition.- F. Toxicity Enhancement.- G. Enhanced Synthetic Activities.- H. Surface Alterations In du ced by Interferons.- I. Enhanced Immunolysis.- J. Enhancement of Phagocytosis.- K. Macrophage “Activation”.- L. Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity-Inhibition.- M. Graft-vs-Host Reactions: Effects of Interferon on Transplantation.- N. Effects of Interferon on Antibody Production.- XI. Pharmacokinetics of Interferons.- A. Distribution of Interferon.- B. Metabolism of Interferons.- C. Effective Interferon Levels.- XII. Antiviral Actions of Interferons in Animals.- A. Natural Recovery Processes From Viral Infections.- B. Antiviral Studies With Interferons and Interferon Inducers in Animals.- XIII. Antitumor Activities of Interferons in Animals.- A. Activities Against Virally-Induced Tumors.- B. Activities Against Transplantable Tumors.- C. Activities Against Chemically- and Radiation-Induced Tumors.- D. Mechanisms of Antitumor Activities of Interferons.- XIV. Interferon in the Clinic.- A. Preliminary Testing of Interferons: Therpeutic-Index of Interferon?.- B. Antiviral Activities of Interferons in Man.- C. Cancer Therapy With Interferon.- XV. Prelude to the Interferon System.- Acknowledgements.- References.- Appendix to the References.