Production of Interferon Using rDNA Technology

What is Interferon?

• Interferons (IFNs) are a group of antiviral and immune-modulating proteins produced naturally by cells in response to viral infections.
• They are used to treat viral infections, cancer, and immune disorders.

Types of Interferons

1. Interferon-α (IFN-α) → Used for treating hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and leukemia.
2. Interferon-β (IFN-β) → Used for treating multiple sclerosis.
3. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) → Used for treating chronic granulomatous disease and some cancers.

Production of Recombinant Interferon

1. Isolation of the Gene – The gene encoding human interferon is isolated.
2. Cloning into a Vector – The gene is inserted into a bacterial or mammalian expression vector.
3. Host Cell Expression – The recombinant vector is introduced into host cells such as E. coli or Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells for protein production.
4. Purification – The interferon protein is purified using chromatography to obtain a highly pure form.

Medical Applications

• Treatment of hepatitis B and C.
• Used in therapy for multiple sclerosis.
• Effective in treating certain cancers.

Commercial Production Example

• The first recombinant interferon, Roferon-A, was produced using E. coli.
• Interferon is used to treat viral infections (hepatitis, HPV), cancers (leukemia, melanoma), and immune disorders (multiple sclerosis).

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