interferon

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interferon (inter-feer-on) n. a substance that is produced by cells infected with a virus and has the ability to inhibit viral growth. Particular interferons are effective only in the species that produces them. Preparations of human interferon produced by genetic engineering are used clinically in treating hepatitis B and certain lymphomas and other cancers (i. alfa), hepatitis C (i. alfa and peginterferon alfa), and multiple sclerosis (i. beta).

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