3 - Interferons

Question 1

Interferon protects the cell from viral infections

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Interferon are a family of secretory glycoproteins

Answer 2

True

Question 3

There are 3 types of interferon

Answer 3

True (Type I, II and III)

Question 4

IFN-alpha and IFN-beta are type I interferon

Answer 4

True

Question 5

IFN-gamma is the only Type II interferon

Answer 5

True

Question 6

Type I IFN have multiple biological activities I.e. Antiviral, antiproliferative, antiangiogenic etc

Answer 6

True

Question 7

IFN-beta has 29% structural similarity to IFN-alpha

Answer 7

True

Question 8

IFN-gamma does not share any structural homology to IFN-alpha and IFN-beta

Answer 8

True

Question 9

Pegylated IFN I.e. IFN-alpha increases the time of the IFN in circulation to enable the frequency of dosing to be reduced

Answer 9

True

Question 10

Pegylation is a process by which polyethylene glycol (PEG) is attached to IFN

Answer 10

True

Question 11

IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma are excreted renally

Answer 11

True

Question 12

IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma are metabolised under proteolytic degradation during renal tubular reabsorption (renal metabolism)

Answer 12

True

Question 13

IFN are not protein bound

Answer 13

True

Question 14

IFN-alpha has induced the formation of neutralising antibodies

Answer 14

True

Question 15

Patients with high titres of anti-IFN-alpha neutralising antibodies have decreased response to therapy

Answer 15

True

Question 16

IFN-alpha and IFN-beta (both Type I IFN) share the same receptor

Answer 16

True

Question 17

IFN-gamma (Type II IFN) binds to a different receptor to IFN-alpha and IFN-beta (Type I IFN)

Answer 17

True

Question 18

IFN has antiviral activity

Answer 18

True

Question 19

IFN has antiproliferative activity

Answer 19

True

Question 20

IFN has immunoregulatory activity

Answer 20

True

Question 21

IFN-gamma (Type II IFN) is a more potent stimulator of MHC antigens than IFN-alpha and IFN-beta (both Type I IFN)

Answer 21

True

Question 22

IFN-alpha inhibits angiogenesis

Answer 22

True

Question 23

IFN-gamma is associated with tumour blood vessel destruction and necrosis

Answer 23

True

Question 24

Both the antiviral activity and antiproliferative activity of IFN are due to induction of oligo-adenylate synthetase (2’-5’ A synthetase)

Answer 24

True

Question 25

IFN-alpha use in infants has been associated with permanent spastic diplegia

Answer 25

True

Question 26

Due to the risk of permanent spastic diplegia associated with IFN-alpha use in infants and the tendency of haemangiomas to involute, IFN-alpha use in children <1 year old should be limited to life threatening or severely physically limiting haemangiomas

Answer 26

True (although it has been presumed that preservatives such as benzyl and phenol alcohol in the commercially injectible solution are the culprits and preservative-free saline solution is recommended)

Question 27

Chronic Cutaneous IFN use may cause delayed re-epithelialization and potential systemic toxicity

Answer 27

True

Question 28

IFN-alpha may have a role in treatment of SLE as elevated levels of IFN have been found to correlate with disease severity

Answer 28

True

Question 29

The adverse effects of IFN are dose dependant

Answer 29

True

Question 30

The adverse effects of IFN generally remit with continued therapy

Answer 30

True

Question 31

The adverse effects of IFN improve with dose reduction

Answer 31

True

Question 32

The adverse effects of IFN are rapidly reversible on cessation of therapy

Answer 32

True

Question 33

Influenza like symptoms are the most commonly associated adverse effects associated with IFN therapy

Answer 33

True

Question 34

Prophylactic acetaminophen, aspirin or NSAIDs prevent the influenza-like symptoms of IFN treatment

Answer 34

True

Question 35

Fatal rhabdomyolysis and multiple organ failure has occurred in IFN-alpha use

Answer 35

True

Question 36

Creatinine kinase (CK) and urinary myoglobin concentrations is recommended in IFN treatment

Answer 36

True (1 case of fatal rhabdomyolysis)

Question 37

IFN needs to be discontinued in patients with evidence of rhabdomyolysis

Answer 37

True (reported case of fatal rhabdomyolysis)

Question 38

IFN-gamma (Type II IFN) cam cause Increased serum triglycerides

Answer 38

True

Question 39

IFN-alpha can cause hypotension, dysrhythmia, and tachycardia

Answer 39

True

Question 40

Chest and back pain has been associated with IFN-beta

Answer 40

True

Question 41

Depression and suicidal behaviour has been associated with IFN-alpha

Answer 41

True

Question 42

IFN may cause GI adverse effects

Answer 42

True (nausea and diarrhoea can occur)

Question 43

Collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis may occur with treatment with IFN and resolves with cessation of treatment

Answer 43

True

Question 44

Sarcoidosis has been associated in IFN-alpha treated patients

Answer 44

True (cessation of therapy led to granuloma regression)

Question 45

Neutralising antibodies can develop in patients receiving IFN-alpha2a and IFN-alpha2b which appear specific to the recombinant IFN

Answer 45

True (does not occur with natural IFN)

Question 46

IFN-gamma may induce local psoriasis

Answer 46

True (psoriatic lesions at sites of IFN-gamma injections)

Question 47

IFN decreases the clearance of aminophylline

Answer 47

True (due to CYP 1A2 interaction)

Question 48

Concomitant Zidovudine (anti retroviral therapy) treatment and IFN may increase the risk of haematologic complications

Answer 48

True

Question 49

IFN-alpha2a in conjunction with Interleukin-2 may increase the risk of renal failure

Answer 49

True

Question 50

IFN should be used cautiously in patients with debilitating medical conditions due to the influenza-like adverse effects

Answer 50

True

Question 51

Subcutaneous administration of IFN is favoured over intramuscular injections in patients with thrombocytopenia

Answer 51

True

Question 52

Neutropenia /leukopenia may occur with IFN therapy

Answer 52

True