Anti-Interferon-alpha (Anti-IFN-alpha) ELISA

Studies on antigenicity led to the concept that molecules like the interferons were not immunogenic in homologous systems because antibodies are not normally produced against "self" antigens. However, naturally occuring or therapeutically induced antibodies to cytokines such as interferons, tumor necrosis factors (TNF), interleukins (IL) and various growth factors were found, which are generally thought to inhibit cytokine functions, and the appearance of such antibodies should therefore result in various degrees of cytokine deficiency. It is a common concept that the development of antibodies against any autoantigen or drug is always undesirable. Such antibodies are crucial for the pathology of autoimmune diseases and inhibit the pharmacological effects of drugs including exogenously administered cytokines. Natural antibodies: Antibodies to IFN-alpha have been reported in patients with various autoimmune disorders. Antibodies to IFN-alpha were detected in the serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. There are reports of natural antibodies to IFN-alpha in patients suffering from herpes zoster infections, and varicella zoster disease. Spontaneous antibodies to IFN-alpha were shown to occur in sera of various cancer patients. Therapeutically induced antibodies: Formation of antibodies against IFN-alpha has been reported in patients after treatment with all available human IFN preparations regardless of their composition and subtypes. More and more reports indicate that relapses after successful IFN-alpha therapy coincide the formation of neutralizing antibodies against IFN-alpha. Leukemias/lymphomas: Clinical resistance and IFN-alpha antibodies have been found in patients with hairy cell leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphoid leukemia, multiple myeloma, essential thrombocytemia, preleukemia, and Kaposi's sarcoma. Solid tumors: Treatment of patients with solid tumors may also induce IFN-alpha antibody formation as shown for: malignant melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, breast carcinoma, various advanced carcinomas, urinary bladder carcinoma and genital as well as respiratory papillomatosis. .