Effects of alpha-interferon on iron-related measurements in human subjects.

Subcutaneous administration of alpha-interferon to normal volunteers caused hypoferraemia and hyperferritinaemia. There was, however, no concomitant rise in other components of the acute-phase response, including the serum C-reactive protein value, the granulocyte count and the plasma lactoferrin concentration. In fact, the latter two dropped significantly. The hypoferraemic response could be prolonged when a second dose was given 48 hours after the initial one. This hypoferraemic response may play a role similar to that induced by interleukin-1, which limits the proliferation of invading micro-organisms or neoplastic cells. The present findings may therefore have relevance to the clinical mechanism of action of the interferons.