Interferons and Interleukins

In this chapter, the complex role of interferons and interleukins in our defense system to defend against, contain, or eliminate toxic or invasive agents is discussed. Because of their toxic effects, several containment mechanisms such as short half-life, downregulation, and neutralization factors ensure that their action is strictly localized. Their autocrine or paracrine mechanism of action explains why systemic administration of these cytokines is restricted to serious diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis.