INTERFERON BETA Meaning and
Definition
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Interferon beta is a naturally occurring protein in the human body that is primarily produced by immune cells known as fibroblasts and macrophages. It is classified as a type of interferon, which are a group of signaling proteins that play a vital role in stimulating the immune response against viral infections, tumors, and other diseases.
Interferon beta is specifically involved in regulating the body's immune system by boosting the activity of certain immune cells, enhancing their ability to fight off pathogens. It achieves this by binding to specialized receptors on the surface of cells, triggering a cascade of signaling events that result in the activation of various antiviral defense mechanisms.
One of the key functions of interferon beta is to inhibit the replication of viruses within infected cells, effectively hindering their ability to spread and cause further damage. Additionally, it actively promotes the presentation of viral antigens to immune cells, which assists in eliciting a stronger immune response against the invading pathogen.
Interferon beta has been widely used as a therapeutic agent for various medical conditions, particularly in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). It has been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of MS relapses, delay disease progression, and decrease the accumulation of brain lesions. As a result, it has become an essential component of disease-modifying therapies for MS.
In summary, interferon beta is a naturally occurring protein that plays a crucial role in regulating the immune system's response to viral infections, tumors, and other diseases. It helps in inhibiting viral replication, enhancing immune cell activity, and promoting antiviral defense mechanisms.
Common Misspellings for INTERFERON BETA
- unterferon beta
- jnterferon beta
- knterferon beta
- onterferon beta
- 9nterferon beta
- 8nterferon beta
- ibterferon beta
- imterferon beta
- ijterferon beta
- ihterferon beta
- inrerferon beta
- inferferon beta
- ingerferon beta
- inyerferon beta
- in6erferon beta
- in5erferon beta
- intwrferon beta
- intsrferon beta
- intdrferon beta
- intrrferon beta
Etymology of INTERFERON BETA
The word "interferon" has a Latin origin. It is derived from the Latin words "inter" meaning "between" and "ferre" meaning "to carry, bear". The term was initially coined by Alick Isaacs and Jean Lindenmann in 1957 to describe a substance secreted by virus-infected cells that interferes with the replication of other viruses. The term "interferon" suggests its ability to interfere with viral replication.
The word "beta" comes from the ancient Greek letter "βeta". In the context of interferons, it is used to differentiate between different types or subtypes of interferon molecules. Interferon beta is one of the three major types of interferons, with the other two being interferon alpha and interferon gamma. The differentiation through Greek letters helps identify specific subtypes within the interferon family.
