The interferons are cytokines with a wide array of biological properties. The survival advantage for IFN treated patients is remarkable in comparison with patients treated with conventional chemotherapy. In several subsets of ET and PV patients, IFN- a can be considered as first line therapy. Roland Hofbauer, Alan D. Kaye, Stylianos Kapiotis, Oswald Wagner and Michael Frass. Inflammation represents the consequence of capillary dilation with accumulation of fluid and transmigration of leukocytes into the surrounding tissue.
Leukocytes play a major role in the defense system of the body against invading microorganisms.
This defense system has a non-specific branch consisting of granulocytes and macrophages and a specific branch of lymphocytes. Granulocytes release cytotoxic compounds from their intracellular granules into their local environment when encountering microorganisms. This random destruction happens rapidly, but it may also harm healthy tissue of the body. Leukocytes patrol the body by circulating through the blood and lymphatic system ensuring a continuous surveillance which is a prerequisite for an efficient defense. Upon tissue damage and inflammation, leukocytes are recruited from the blood to sites of injury, and this trafficking displays exquisite specificity.