Animal models in interferon research: Some current trends

Concepts about interferon have changed dramatically over the years. Initially it was considered to be an antiviral protein which selectively inhibited the replication of viruses²⁴. Over the years we have discovered an increasing number of interferons and many different biological activities. Other regulatory proteins have been detected and the interferons have become part of an interacting family of biological response-modifying proteins. Because of the complexity of these systems, animal experiments are the only way to assess the clinical potential of interferons (and interferon-like molecules). It is important that the animal experiments should not be too restricted in scope, because interferon has now proved to have activity in conditions other than viral infections, for example against tumors and infections other than those caused by viruses.