Our body makes interferons and interleukins. Both play important roles in the immune system.
Interferons and interleukins are types of cytokines – signals that stimulate and activate certain cells in the immune system.
Interferon provides non specific immunity. It main function is viral infections regardless of type A group of proteins produced early on in a viral infection. Interferon are the first line of defence of our immune system. Interferon stop viral replication. If our body cell is infected by a virus, it will releases minute amounts of interferon, which then attach themselves to neighbouring cells. This will prompt those neighbouring cells tos tart producing their own protective anitviral enzymes.
The results is impariment of the growth and replication of the atttacking virus. Interferon also kick starts other parts of the immune system. Interferon also has anti-tumor effects.
Interleukin is a group of proteins. It functions as chenmical messangers between cells. It ativates the “killer” activities of specific white blood cells in the immune system. Interleukin also regulates cell growth and is particularly important in stimulating immune responses, such as inflammation.
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