NCIt definition : A recombinant protein which is chemically identical to or similar to endogenous interferon
beta with antiviral and anti-tumor activities. Endogenous interferons beta are cytokines
produced by nucleated cells (predominantly natural killer cells) upon exposure to
live or inactivated virus, double-stranded RNA or bacterial products. These agents
bind to specific cell-surface receptors, resulting in the transcription and translation
of genes with an interferon-specific response element. The proteins so produced mediate
many complex effects, including antiviral (the most important being inhibition of
viral protein synthesis), antiproliferative and immune modulating effects. The recombinant
therapeutic forms of interferon beta are interferon beta 1-a and interferon beta 1-b.
(NCI05);