THE ALPHA-INTERFERON SYSTEM IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING RENAL-TRANSPLANTATION AND TREATED WITH CYCLOSPORINE AND PREDNISONE

The interferon system was investigated in 65 normal control patients a nd ten patients with chronic renal disease, approximately a half year after renal transplantation and treatment with prednisone and cyclospo rine. In previous studies, comparable doses of prednisone had no effec t on the interferon system. It was assumed that the changes observed w ere primarily the result of cyclosporine therapy. In contrast with nor mal persons, low levels of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) were found in the circulation of patients. It was thought that this may be related t o low grade infections in immunosuppressed persons. In patients, the I FN-alpha synthesizing capacity of leukocytes was significantly decreas ed. IFN-alpha inhibitor level was slightly increased in two patients. Inhibition of IFN-alpha (IFN-alpha) synthesizing capacity may be part of die immunosuppression mechanism of action of cyclosporine in patien ts undergoing transplant.