Sufficient quantity for effective treatment |
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Interferons - genetic engineering produces sufficient quantities
Interferons are a group of proteins of approximately 160 amino acids which are involved in the regulation of cell metabolism, proliferation and differentiation. Interferons were discovered in the 1950s and given their name because of their ability to protect cells from viral infections. Later their potential in cancer treatment was disclosed. In nature, interferons are only found in very low amounts in human tissue. Extraction from animal sources is no option since interferons are highly species specific, and too much human tissue would be needed to extract usable quantities. Chemical synthesis is impossible due to the very complex chemical structure. Only with interferons made by genetic engineering has sufficient material become available for further studies on their role in disease and possible therapeutic effects.