Interferon

Interferons are signaling proteins that help produce antiviral responses in cells which inhibit viruses from proliferating. Interferons are released by cells in response to the presence of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and cancerous cells. Interferons are important in the immune response to enteroviruses.

Interferon type I
Type I interferons include the interferon alphas (IFN-α or INF-α), interferon beta (IFN-β or INF-β). Interferon delta (IFN-δ or INF-δ or trophoblast) is also a type I interferon but is not found in humans.

Excessive, prolonged IFN-I signaling in persistent infections leads to multiple immune dysfunctions.

Interferon type II
Interferon gamma (IFN-γ or INF-γ) is the only member of the type II interferon group found in humans, and is produced by lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Interferon gamma shows antiviral activity, and helps regulate the immune system.

Interferon type III
Interferon lambda (IFN-λ or INF-λ) is the only member of the recently discovered type III interferon group. In humans the interferon lambda superfamily includes the proteins IFN-lambda1 (IL-29, interleukin-29), IFN lambda2 (IL-28A), IFN lambda3 (IL-28B) and IFNL4.

Dr Chia's investigation of interferon therapy
Interferon therapy appears to be temporarily very effective for treating enterovirus-associated ME/CFS, with severe bedbound patients being able to return to work after treatment, but Dr John Chia discovered that most patients relapse several months later. However, although Chia found interferon therapy is usually not a long-term solution to ME/CFS, its major short-term efficacy does provide some supporting evidence for the theory that persistent enterovirus infection causes and maintains ME/CFS.

In Dr Chia's experimental treatments of ME/CFS using interferon, one investigation employed the antiviral drug ribavirin plus interferon alpha therapy for ME/CFS patients with high titers to coxsackievirus B3 or coxsackievirus B5, resulting in improvements in symptoms, the elimination of enteroviral RNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and a fourfold reduction in coxsackievirus B antibody titers. However, after therapy was complete, relapse typically occurred 4 to 5 months later, along with antibody titers increasing to pretreatment values and the enteroviral RNA returning to the PBMC.

In another experiment, interferon alpha plus interferon delta were used in combination to treat severe bedbound ME/CFS patients positive for enteroviral RNA in their peripheral blood leukocytes: 6 out of 11 severe patients were able to return to full or part-time work as a result, but again relapse occurred some month later. Relapse in these interferon-treated patients was often triggered by a bout of heavy exertion. In a further experiment, two severe bedridden ME/CFS patients with enteroviral RNA in their peripheral blood leukocytes were given interferon alpha plus interferon gamma in combination and went into remission, with these improvements lasting for about 14 months before relapsed occurred and their symptoms returned to the pretreatment baseline.

Dr Chia found type 1 interferon does not work for ME/CFS linked to coxsackievirus B4. Dr Chia rarely uses interferon now, because he says ME/CFS patients cannot tolerate it. Chia does sometimes use interferon beta to treat severe bedbound hospitalized patients, as he finds after two weeks treatment, those patients become able to walk around.

Other studies on interferon therapy for ME/CFS
In a 1993 study, 18 ME/CFS patients were given interferon alpha therapy for 12 weeks, after which patients were observed for a further 3 months. Patients were divided into two groups of 9, one group were treated immediately, and the second group had their treatment delayed for 3 months; none of the second group recovered significantly while waiting for treatment. At the end of the study, 3 out of 18 patients recovered completely, and 2 of these 3 remained well 12 months later. A further 2 patients were improved at the end of the 3 month follow-up period and remained so up to 8 months later. Out of the 5 patients who recovered or improved, 4 had coxsackievirus B IgM antibodies in their serum; but only 1 of the patients who did not improve had coxsackievirus B antibodies, which suggests that interferon therapy works only for enterovirus-associated ME/CFS.

In a 1996 study, 30 ME/CFS patients were treated with interferon alpha or placebo in a double-blind crossover trial. The study found that alpha inteferon therapy was particularly effective in the subset of ME/CFS patients who had diminished NK function and normal lymphocyte proliferation.

Herbs
Several herbs may increase interferon including Tulsi.