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Interferons (IFNs) are a group of signaling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, or tumor cells. They play a crucial role in the immune response by interfering with viral replication within host cells, activating immune cells, and increasing host defenses. Among the different types of interferons, Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) is a type I interferon that has potent antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory activities .
IFN-α is produced by leukocytes and is involved in the innate immune response to viral infections. It binds to specific receptors on the surface of cells, initiating a signaling cascade that leads to the expression of various antiviral proteins. There are multiple subtypes of IFN-α, each with slightly different properties and functions .
Neutralizing antibodies are a specific type of antibody that can neutralize the biological effects of their target antigen. In the context of IFN-α, neutralizing antibodies can bind to IFN-α and prevent it from interacting with its receptor, thereby inhibiting its biological activity. These antibodies are valuable tools for studying the function of IFN-α and for developing therapeutic strategies to modulate its activity in various diseases .
Mouse anti-human IFN-α antibodies are monoclonal antibodies produced by immunizing mice with human IFN-α. These antibodies are then harvested and purified for use in research and therapeutic applications. One such example is the clone MMHA-2, which has high binding affinity to human IFN-α and is suitable for use in neutralization assays, ELISA, and Western blotting .