[Role of cycloferon and interferon-alphain apoptosis regulation in neuroendocrinal system on aging].

A detailed analysis of the literature data gives contradictory information about the role of interferon-alpha in the regulation of apoptosis, while there are almost no data on the participation of cycloferon in this process. Results of original experiments in recent years showed that exogenous interferon-alpha is not apoptosis protector in hypothalamic neurons on aging. The treatment with interferon-alpha activates dystrophic processes in neurosecretory cells of aged mice. However, endogenous interferon induced by cycloferon leads to a decrease in the apoptosis of hypothalamic neurons in both young and old animals. Antiapoptotic activity of interferon-alpha and cycloferon has been found in aged animals under stress condition. Thus, the role of immunomodulators in apoptosis regulation in hypothalamic neurons depends on the age and the type of immunomodulators. This fact opens new prospects for the clinical use of interferon-alpha and cycloferon.