Significance of the cytokine interferon gamma in clinical dermatology
- 1 November 2004
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology
- Vol. 29 (6), 584-588
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2230.2004.01652.x
Abstract
Interferon (IFN)-gamma is considered a key cytokine of innate and adaptive immunity playing pivotal roles in host defence against microbial pathogens and tumours, and exerts profound antiproliferative and antifibrotic effects. In this review we discuss applications and perspectives of IFN-gamma in clinical dermatology, such as papillomavirus and bacterial infections, tumours, atopic dermatitis, and fibrotic conditions such as scleroderma and postradiation fibrosis. Moreover, we give a summary of the pharmacologic properties including main side effects and potential risk factors of IFN-gamma therapy. Although former enthusiasm for IFN-gamma (e.g. in atopic dermatitis) has subsided, this cytokine might remain a promising tool (and target) in clinical dermatology, due to its central immunobiologic functions, better characterization of its kinetics in diseases facilitating optimized treatment schedules, and successful applications in fibrotic conditions such as scleroderma, idiopathic pulmonary and skin postradiation fibrosis.Keywords
This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- Defective phagocytosis by human monocyte/macrophages following HIV-1 infection: underlying mechanisms and modulation by adjunctive cytokine therapyJournal of Clinical Virology, 2002
- Treatment of refractory disseminated Mycobacterium abscessus infection with interferon gamma therapy.Archives of Dermatology, 1999
- CELLULAR RESPONSES TO INTERFERON-γAnnual Review of Immunology, 1997
- Spontaneous or interferon-γ-induced T-cell infiltration, HLA-DR and ICAM-1 expression in genitoanal warts are associated with TH1 or mixed TH1/TH2 cytokine mRNA expression profilesArchiv für dermatologische Forschung, 1997
- Une complication inhabituelle de la coronarographie: la névralgie du nerf saphène interneAnnales de Réadaptation et de Médecine Physique, 1997
- Clinical healing of antimony-resistant cutaneous or mucocutaneous leishmaniasis following the combined administration of interferon-γ and pentavalent antimonial compoundsTransactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1994
- The Molecular Cell Biology of Interferon-Gamma and Its ReceptorAnnual Review of Immunology, 1993
- A Controlled Trial of Interferon Gamma to Prevent Infection in Chronic Granulomatous DiseaseNew England Journal of Medicine, 1991
- Recombinant Interferon-Gamma (rIFN-gamma) in DermatologyJournal of Investigative Dermatology, 1990
- Patients with condyloma acuminatum exhibit decreased interleukin-2 and interferon gamma production and depressed natural killer activityJournal of Clinical Immunology, 1987