Production of the interferon protein: hyporesponsiveness.

A number of mechanisms may be responsible for development of hyporeactivity in cells or animals infected with viruses or exposed to interferon inducers. Available evidence, however, has implicated a specific control protein in modulation of interferon production. The precise identity and mechanism by which the repressor molecule modulates interferon production is at present unknown. Development of hyporeactivity to interferon induction as a consequence of repeated doses of an inducer or that develops secondary to virus infection may represent a serious limitation to use of inducers as antiviral agents. However, judicious selection of treatment regimens and inducers may circumvent or limit the severity of hyporeactivity and consequently enhance the therapeutic activity of interferon inducers.