Interferon alpha Simoa
Interferon alpha (IFN-a) consists of 14 distinct isoforms and belongs to the type I family of interferons made and released by leukocytes normally to protect against viral infections. Canonical IFN-a signaling involves binding to the heterodimeric transmembrane IFN-a/? receptor to activate JAK1 and TYK2 which leads to phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT2 and transcription of several hundred IFN-regulated genes. Because of its antiviral effects, IFN-a has been developed and approved for the treatment of Hepatitis B and C and is also used in combination with chemotherapy and radiation therapy for some cancers. IFN-a is also involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Persistent, non-physiological exposure to IFN-a can have detrimental effects by inducing immunosuppressive pathways. Additionally, elevated levels of IFN-a in serum has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity, most notably systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and dermatomyositis, as well as monogenic type I interferonopathies. These functions of IFN-a highlight the need to monitor IFN-a levels in normal and diseased individuals along with patients undergoing therapy.
