[Perspectives on interferon research and on its therapeutic use]

After briefly reviewing recent advances in the knowledge of various molecular species of interferon, some prospects of the basic research in this field are discussed: 1) interferon as a physiological hormone endowed with antiviral and immunomodulatory functions and possibly interacting with the neuroendocrine system; 2) interferon as an inducible protein, a model which allows a refined molecular analysis using the probes made available by cloning; 3) the various mechanisms of interferon action at the biochemical level. In the last section, the past and future of interferon as a therapeutic agent are examined. For its therapeutic evaluation, interferon needs to be compared with the best chemotherapeutic agents now available against viruses and tumors. Large scale clinical trials require a large production of interferons. Hence, a dilemma will be encountered: either pursue trials with natural preparations which are always a mixture of several types and subclasses of interferons in no defined proportions; wait for availability of the interferons produced by genetic recombinants which are cloned species, and try these various species, each one alone and in combination, or even more use hybrid molecular species. The availability of accurate markers for the action of interferon in man will be of great usefulness to study its therapeutic action and furthermore to define its indications. Finally, the possibility is raised that some non toxic interferon inducers, such as Poly A, Poly U, could also be used as well as interferon itself.