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 and ten patients with chronic renal disease, approximately a half year after renal transplantation and treatment with prednisone and cyclosporine. In previous studies, comparable doses of prednisone had no effect on the interferon system. It was assumed that the changes observed were primarily the result of cyclosporine therapy. In contrast with normal persons, low levels of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) were found in the circulation of patients. It was thought that this may be related to low grade infections in immunosuppressed persons. In patients, the IFN-alpha synthesizing capacity of leukocytes was significantly decreased. IFN-alpha inhibitor level was slightly increased in two patients. Inhibition of IFN-alpha (IFN-alpha) synthesizing capacity may be part of the immunosuppression mechanism of action of cyclosporine in patients undergoing transplant.