Sketchy Pharm: Interferon Alpha, Beta, Gamma Flashcards
Cytokines such as the interferons are released from ________________.
virally infected host cells (like the ill arcade manager handing out Cyto-Coins)
___________ upregulate interferon synthesis.
Interleukins
Think of the arcade clerk named Luke!
Interferon alpha is used to treat what infectious diseases?
HBV and HCV
Think of the Pac-Man machine with alphas for the A’s. The symbol is a hippo!
Other than hepatitis, interferon alpha is also used to treat what five diseases?
- Hairy cell leukemia (hairy, ball-shaped villain)
- Malignant melanoma (pigmented ghost villain)
- Kaposi’s sarcoma (Kate’s Posies on the side and in the game)
- Condyloma accuminata (ACCUMulated tokens in the jar)
- Renal cell carcinoma (crab in the clear, kidney-shaped machine)
What are the side effects of interferon alpha?
- Flu-like symptoms: malaise, fever, fatigue, cough (kid sweating, red, and tired on the machine)
- Neurologic symptoms: retinopathy, tinnitus
- Myelosuppression (the maze that Pac-Man is going through is bone-shaped and he’s eating RBCs!!)
- Lupus (wolf stuffed animal falling out of machine)
Interferon beta is used to treat ______________.
multiple sclerosis (like the slogan on the Beta Invaders game: “Combat Lesions Through Time and Space!”)
How does interferon gamma work?
It activates macrophages and allows them to burst granulomas, which is why it is used in CGD.
(Think of the asteroids breaking open in Gammaga.)