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Published on: May 27, 2011
Ribavirin in cancer immunotherapies: controlling nitric oxide helps generate cytotoxic lymphocyte
1College of Medicine, University of Vermont, 2 Church St., Burlington, Vermont 05401, USA. rekast@email.com
Abstract:
Either ribavirin, RBV, or cyclophosphamide, CY, can shift an immune response from Th2 towards a Th1 cytokine profile. CY is used in this role in various current cancer immunotherapy attempts but with mixed success. More potent and reliable immunoadjuvants and Th 1 response biasing methods are needed. RBV is used today mainly to augment interferon-alpha treatment of hepatitis C. RBV shifts an immune response from Th2 towards Th1 more effectively than CY and may be a safe and useful adjuvant for current cancer immunotherapeutic efforts. RBV is thought to act by inhibition of tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis. Tetrahydrobiopterin is an essential co-factor for all known isoforms of nitric oxide synthase. Lowered nitric oxide favors Th1 development as high levels favor Th2 weighting.
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