What are interferons? Let's learn more about this protector in our own bodies!

Have you ever thought that we have a small army inside our bodies to fight diseases? There really is such an army. That is our immune system. This army has some special "messengers" that know when a disease is coming and send a message to others about it. Those messengers are what we call interferons. Today we are talking about these wonderful interferons.

Simply put, what are these interferons?

Interferons are special proteins produced by our own cells, especially our immune system. To be precise, these are "signaling proteins." When a virus or germ enters our body, or when cancer cells start to grow, our body's cells produce these interferons and tell other cells, "Here comes an enemy, get ready for battle!"

These are called "interferons" because they "interfere" with the activity of germs like viruses. That is, they stop viruses from multiplying inside the body, that is, from spreading.

But the amazing thing is, scientists have been able to produce this interferon, which is naturally produced in our bodies, artificially in a laboratory. Interferon made this way was first used as a treatment for some types of cancer in 1986. Since then, this artificial interferon has been used to treat a wide range of diseases.

So how do these work?

Imagine that a virus enters your body. At that moment, cells like our white blood cells release this interferon. This interferon goes and sends a signal to the cells infected by the virus, as well as to the healthy cells around them.

When this signal is received, defense mechanisms within those cells are activated. They also send a message to other "soldiers" in our immune system (for example, another type of protein called cytokines) saying, "There's a problem here, come and destroy this enemy."

This is what the synthetic interferon that doctors give as a treatment does.

• They stimulate our immune system, prompting it to attack cancer cells or viral invaders.
• It stops cancer cells and viruses from dividing, that is, growing.
• Helps protect healthy cells from infection.

There are three main types of interferons.

1. Interferon-alpha

2. Interferon-beta

3. Interferon-gamma

Although a type called Interferon-lambda has recently been discovered, it is still in the research stage.

What diseases are treated with interferon?

Each of these types of interferon is used to treat different diseases. Let's see what they are. I have created this table to make this information easy to understand.

How is this treatment given?

Your doctor will usually give you this interferon treatment as an injection . It may be given as an injection into your muscle, or under your skin. Sometimes it may be given as an infusion into a vein in your arm.

This treatment is usually given in a hospital or clinic. However, in some cases, a doctor or nurse will teach you how to give yourself the injection at home. If you do, you will be given proper training on how to prepare and inject the medicine.

The type of interferon you are given, the dosage, how long you need to take it, and how many times a week you need to take it will depend on your medical condition. That decision will be made by the doctor who is treating you.

What are the benefits and risks of this treatment?

As with any treatment, interferon therapy has both benefits and risks of certain side effects.

Main advantages of the treatment

Simply put, this treatment strengthens our body's natural defense system and helps it fight disease.

• Helps the immune system find and attack cancer cells and viruses.
• It stops cancer cells and viruses from spreading and growing in the body.
• Prevents infection from spreading to healthy cells.

Possible side effects

Some side effects may occur when taking interferon therapy. Most of these are temporary.

Many people experience flu-like symptoms a few hours after receiving the injection. This may last for about 24 hours. However, you may also experience the following:

• Headache
• Body aches and muscle pains
• Chills
• Vomiting and nausea
• Feeling very tired (Fatigue)

In addition, some people may experience skin rashes, loss of appetite, and hair loss (alopecia).

Serious conditions that require special attention

In addition to the minor side effects mentioned above, there are some serious complications that can occur very rarely with interferon therapy, but we must be aware of them . If you have any of the following medical conditions, it is essential to tell your doctor about them before starting interferon therapy.

• Heart problems: Some people may experience low blood pressure or irregular heartbeats after this treatment. If you already have a heart condition, your doctor will monitor you very closely.

• Mental health problems: Some patients who receive this treatment have experienced depression or suicidal thoughts. If you have a pre-existing mental health problem, your doctor will be constantly monitoring your mental health during this treatment. If you feel anxious or depressed, tell your doctor right away.

• Eye conditions: If you have an eye condition, such as diabetes-related retinopathy, interferon may make it worse. Therefore, your doctor will likely recommend that you have regular eye exams before and during treatment.

• Thyroid disease: Some people may have an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) or an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Your doctor will test your thyroid hormone levels before starting treatment.

• Lung diseases: If you have lung diseases like bronchitis or pneumonia, this medicine may make them worse. Therefore, your doctor will keep you under regular checkups.