Interferon-α (IFNα) neurotoxicity

Clinical studies indicate that increased central nervous system (CNS) interferon-alpha (IFNα) is associated with cognitive dysfunction in a wide variety of conditions. This has perhaps been best studied in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). These findings on IFNα neurotoxicity have been corroborated in animal studies. Probably the best demonstration of the neurotoxicity of IFNα was through the use of a mouse model of HAND, where it was shown that blocking IFNα with neutralizing antibodies prevented behavioral deficits and associated histopathological effects. In vitro studies have demonstrated a dose dependent, detrimental effect of IFNα on neuronal dendrites. Development of therapeutics that block IFNα may prove to be an effective treatment of HAND and other inflammatory conditions where there is increased CNS IFNα.