Rational design of a potent, long-lasting form of interferon: a 40 kDa branched polyethylene glycol-conjugated interferon alpha-2a for the treatment of hepatitis C

A potent, long-lasting form of interferon alpha-2a mono-pegylated with a 40 kilodalton branched poly(ethylene glycol) was designed, synthesized, and characterized. Mono-pegylated interferon alpha-2a was comprised of four major positional isomers involving Lys31, Lys121, Lys131, and Lys134 of interferon. The in vitro anti-viral activity of pegylated interferon alpha-2a was found to be only 7% of the original activity. In contrast, the in vivo antitumor activity was severalfold enhanced compared to interferon alpha-2a. Pegylated interferon alpha-2a showed no immunogenicity in mice. After subcutaneous injection of pegylated interferon alpha-2a, a 70-fold increase in serum half-life and a 50-fold increase in mean plasma residence time concomitant with sustained serum concentrations were observed relative to interferon alpha-2a. These preclinical results suggest a significantly enhanced human pharmacological profile for pegylated interferon alpha-2a. Results of Phase II/III hepatitis C clinical trials in humans confirmed the superior efficacy of pegylated interferon alpha-2a compared to unmodified interferon alpha-2a.     

Treatment with natural human interferon alpha of a CML-patient with antibodies to recombinant interferon alpha-2b

A patient with Philadelphia-chromosome positive chronic myelogenous leukemia developed interferon antibodies on treatment with recombinant interferon alpha-2b. Clinically this event corresponded with progressive disease. No cross-reactivity of antibodies with human leukocyte interferon was found by Western blot. Treatment was switched to human leukocyte interferon with an obvious clinical effect: WBC was reduced and platelet count stabilized, but the effect was transient and no hematologic remission was achieved. Human leukocyte interferon may be an alternative in CML-patients with neutralizing antibodies to recombinant interferon alpha.     

Preparation and characterization of magnetic microspheres for the purification of interferon alpha-2b

Magnetic agarose microspheres (MAMS), magnetic cellulose microspheres (MCMS), and magnetic poly(vinyl alcohol) microspheres (MPVAMS) were prepared by various different preparation methods. MCMS coupled with anti-IFN alpha-2b monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were selected for the purification of interferon alpha-2b (IFN alpha-2b) after performance characterization among microspheres. Parameters of immunomagnetic separation (IMS), including binding mAb, elution behavior, and sample pretreatment conditions, were optimized to improve the purification efficiency of the separation of IFN alpha-2b by MCMS. Size-exclusion HPLC (HPSEC) showed that the IFN alpha-2b was purified from crude cell lysate had an overall purity of 92.9%, while immunological and biological assays showed an activity recovery of 88.5% and specific antiviral activity of 2.7 x 10(8) IU/mg. Identity and molecular mass of purified IFN alpha-2b were confirmed by western blot and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) analysis. This study illustrated the favorable separation media which combined desired properties for the development of magnetic separation of biological materials.     

High-level expression of human interferon alpha-2b in transgenic carrot (Daucus carota L.) plants

In this study, we report the obtaining of carrot plants expressing human interferon alpha-2b via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation using two vector constructs containing the sequence coding for interferon gene fused with Nicotiana plumbagenifolia calreticulin apoplast targeting signal driven by 35S CaMV promoter and root-specific Mll promoter. The human interferon alpha-2b gene was correctly translated in carrot plants according to Western blot analysis. The recombinant protein exhibited antiviral activity in vitro by inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus replication in established piglet testicular cells. The results demonstrated the higher activity of interferon accumulated in carrot plants for young leaves (up to 50.7 × 10³ IU/g FW) compared to the mature ones probably due to the degradation-susceptible nature of this protein. The taproot-expressing system could have also provided the sufficient protein amounts (up to 16.5 × 10³ IU/g FW) and could possibly be used for generating interferon alpha-2b protein in planta for preventing and curing infectious diseases.     

Creation of transgenic Brassica napus L. Plants expressing human alpha 2b interferon gene

Spring rapeseed transgenic lines expressing human interferon alpha 2b were created by using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of aseptic plant leaf explants. The maximum antiviral activity of the leaf extracts reached 4500 IU/g fresh weight. It was determined that the antioxidant activity and the activity of an enzyme of plant antioxidant system??superoxide dismutase (SOD)??in the leaf tissues of transgenic plants increased compared to controls. There were no correlations between the interferon and antioxidant activities, as well as between SOD and interferon activities. Using the obtained transgenic rapeseed plants with high interferon and antioxidant activities as a feed additive for animals might have preventive effect on their body, increasing resistance to infections of various origins.     

Neutralization of toxic action of endotoxins of gram-negative bacteria by unithiol and magnesium sulphate

The experiments were carried out on mice of CBA strain. The animals received lysate of S. typhimurium in the dose of LD50. The injection of lysate was followed by an increase in the level of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) suggesting the lipid peroxidation (LPO) activation in the liver. At the same time the concentration of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the liver and the lungs was decreasing, which was indicative of the decrease in the activity of prostaglandins. The injections of unithiol prevented both the activation of LPO and the decrease in the concentration of cAMP, that effect having been caused by the antioxidant action of unithiol. The repeated injection of unithiol protected the animals from death in intoxication by lysate of S. typhimurium and Shigella sonnei; the protection manifested itself in the 4.2 and 3.7-fold increase in LD50 respectively. Magnesium sulphate enhanced the protective action of unithiol.     

Chronic viral hepatitis C: management update

The management of chronic viral hepatitis C is evolving rapidly. Monotherapy with interferon, the accepted standard of treatment until recently, achieves only a modest sustained virological response rate of 15%. Combination treatment with alpha-2b interferon and ribavirin has been shown to increase sustained response rates to 40% in patients who have never been treated with interferon and to 50% in those who have relapsed following monotherapy with interferon. However, side effects, which have led to the discontinuation of combination treatment in a significant proportion of patients, must be carefully monitored. Treatment with interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin has now been approved in Canada, but the selection and monitoring of patients suitable for combination treatment requires special expertise. Although improvements in current therapeutic options may be possible with more frequent, higher doses or long-acting forms of interferon together with ribavirin, low sustained response rates (i.e., below 30%) for patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 emphasize the need for novel antiviral medications that will target the functional sites of the HCV genome.     

Outward migration of Gnathostoma spinigerum in interferon alpha treated hepatitis C patient

After the first dose injection of pegylated interferon alpha-2b (Peg-IFN alpha-2b) to a HCV infected Thai woman, she developed cyclic painful swelling nodules on right upper quadrant of abdomen and right anterior lower chest wall. The nodules subsided spontaneously within 1-2 days but were recurrent after every Peg-IFN alpha-2b injection. She also experienced acute urticaria. After nine months of therapy, an immature male of G. spinigerum migrated out from the skin nodule shortly after a Peg-IFN alpha-2b injection as scheduled. The worm showed a head-bulb bearing 8 transverse rows of spines which indicated immature stage. It had well defined four pairs of caudal papillae on posterior body part which were used to identify male gender. Painful migratory swelling and urticaria disappeared after the parasite was removed. She was continually treated and had sustained both virological and biochemical responses to HCV treatment. This case demonstrates that the outward migration of G. spinigerum may be stimulated by the injection of Peg-IFN alpha-2b.     

Site-specific PEGylation of native disulfide bonds in therapeutic proteins

Native disulfide bonds in therapeutic proteins are crucial for tertiary structure and biological activity and are therefore considered unsuitable for chemical modification. We show that native disulfides in human interferon alpha-2b and in a fragment of an antibody to CD4(+) can be modified by site-specific bisalkylation of the two cysteine sulfur atoms to form a three-carbon PEGylated bridge. The yield of PEGylated protein is high, and tertiary structure and biological activity are retained.     

Antioxidant status and proteolytic-antiproteolytic balance in colorectal cancer

Free radicals participate in the development of cancer. When the antioxidant defence system is not longer capable to destroy free radicals they may cause lipid and protein oxidation. Lipid peroxidation products also modify proteins. In such a situation the proteolytic-antiproteolytic balance existing in the blood may be changed. Therefore the aim of this study was to examine the correlation between antioxidant status and activity of proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors in cases of colorectal cancer. This study included 55 patients with colorectal cancer. The blood was taken before surgery and plasma was collected. Total antioxidant status, the levels of lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal) and activity of cathepsin G, elastase and their inhibitors (alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-2-macroglobulin) were determined in plasma. It was shown that during the development of cancer total antioxidant status was signficantly decreased while lipid peroxidation products were increased. Activity of alpha-2-macroglobulin was decreased and activity of determined enzymes was not significantly changed. The observed changes indicate a shift in proteolytic-antiproteolytic balance which may enhance carcinogenesis.     

重组人干扰素α1b抗新型冠状病毒的基础和临床研究进展

干扰素是机体抗病毒的第一道天然防线,干扰素α1b是中国人干扰素家族中主要的抗病毒表达亚型。SARS-CoV-2通过多种途径抑制先天免疫关键分子干扰素的产生。已上市多年的重组人干扰素α1b显示出强大的体外抗SARS-CoV-2病毒活性。初步临床研究显示,包括重组人干扰素α1b在内的I型干扰素对COVID-19显示出积极的治疗和预防作用。全球多个国家正在开展干扰素治疗COVID-19的临床试验,我国自主知识产权的重组人干扰素α1b率先开展了验证性临床试验。     

Activity of erythrocyte membrane Na,K-ATPase in rats with experimental botulism

The effect of type C botulinum toxin on Na, K, Mg-ATPase activities of erythrocyte membranes of white rats was studied in experiments in vivo and in vitro. The activity of Na, K, Mg-ATPase was found to be markedly inhibited in the preclinical period of poisoning, 2 hours after intraperitoneal injection of the toxin. In this case Mg-ATPase activity noticeably increased. In the presence of the development of a grave paralytic syndrome one day after intraperitoneal injection of the toxin, the activity of Na, K-ATPase of the erythrocyte membrane remained decreased as was the case in the preclinical period of poisoning, whereas the activity of Mg-ATPase returned to normal. The experiments in vitro with preincubation of erythrocyte membranes with botulinum toxin in the concentrations corresponding to the mean calculated ones in the experiments in vivo demonstrated inhibition of Na, K-ATPase. The magnitude of Mg-ATPase activity remained virtually unchanged in all the modifications of the experiments with boiled and native botulinum toxin. The in-vivo experiments with intraperitoneal injection of glutathione and unithiol to the pretreated animals attested to normalization of Na, K-ATPase in the preclinical period of poisoning, with this normalization being brought about by unithiol. In the in-vitro experiments with addition of unithiol or glutathione into the incubation medium, each of the donators of sulphhydryl groups prevented Na, K-ATPase inhibition with botulinum toxin.     

Effect of remantadine and ribavirin on the production and antiviral action of human interferon types I and II

The results of using human interferon of types I (alpha- and beta-interferons) and II (gamma-interferon) in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs, such as remantadin and ribavirin for the study in human cell cultures are presented. Moderate doses of the drugs (25 microgram/ml) did not eliminate the interferon production. In higher doses (50 microgram/ml) they lowered the interferon production levels 2--3 times. In the presence of ribavirin the level of the interferon production lowering was higher. On the whole the effect of the drugs on production of interferons of types I and II was of a similar character despite the different means of interferon induction. The combined use of interferons of types I and II with the chemotherapeutic drugs in human embryo cultures infected with Semiliki forest virus (SFV) revealed an additive character of the antiviral effect in all combinations tested. The level of the antiviral activity of alpha-, beta- and gamma-interferons against the SFV was practically the same.     

Some novel aminopropyl nucleoside phosphonates

The aminopropyl nucleoside phosphonates 1-3 have an amino function within either the acyclic chain (series 2 and 3) or as substituent (series 1) of HPMPC (Cidofovir). Both purine and pyrimidine nucleoside anologs have been synthesized. In contrast to HPMPC, only a weak antiherpes virus activity could be demonstrated for 2b and 2c.     

Alpha interferon in T helper phenotype chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a report of three cases

Three patients affected by T helper chronic lymphocytic leukemia were treated with low dose interferon alpha-2b (3 MU/m2 3 times weekly). The disease presented different pathologic expressions with diffuse skin lesions in one patient, a mild clinical course and a prolymphocytic variant with aggressive features, respectively, in the other two cases. A consistent response was observed within 3-6 weeks; by that time a reduction of blood and marrow lymphocytosis in the three patients and a regression of the cutaneous lesions were documented. Therefore, it should be emphasized that the use of alpha IFN, whose effectiveness on cutaneous T cell lymphomas has been already demonstrated, may represent an active agent in the treatment of leukemic T helper phenotype chronic lymphocytic proliferations.     

Effect of gutimine derivatives on the metamorphosis of Rana temporaria tadpoles

A one-time addition of gutimine (0.5 g/l), amtizol (0.2 g/l), and unithiol (0.25 g/l) to the medium at early stages of tadpole development was shown to inhibit metamorphosis only upon addition of unithiol. Repeated addition of gutimine, amtizol, and unithiol to the medium leads to reliable delay in metamorphosis. The delay is more pronounced at addition of the compounds to the medium at late stages of tadpole development (beginning at 40 stage). This suggests that the studied compounds may have anti-thyroid activity. All drugs under study induce the skin clearing.     

Interaction of a synthetic peptide of the interferon alpha-2 C-terminal part with human blood leukocytes. Binding to peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

A biologically active synthetic peptide, 2438, representing the 124-138 amino acid sequence of the human interferon alpha-2 (IFN alpha-2) molecule, which is known to possess IFN-like antiproliferative activity, specifically binds to human blood leukocytes. Scatchard plots reveal two different Kd values, for the 'low' and 'high' affinity binding. The interaction of the 125I-labelled peptide 2438 with the cells is not impaired by human IFN alpha-2 or cholera toxin.     

Inhibition of herpes simplex virus-induced cytopathic effect by modified hen egg-white lysozymes

Hen egg-white lysozyme and three of its basic derivatives obtained by chemical modification were tested for their activity in vitro against a wild strain of herpes simplex virus type 1. Marked inhibition of the cytopathic effect was exhibited by the three chemical derivatives and the heat-inactivated lysozyme, whereas the native enzyme displayed only modest anticytopathic activity. Enzymatic activity did not appear to be necessary for the antiherpes activity of the lysozyme compounds. Instead, other properties such as their basic nature seemed to be relevant to their antiherpes effectiveness in vitro. At the concentrations used, all compounds but one had no significant effect on cell viability and growth. Some of the compounds tested caused formation of deposits on the surface of the cells. Some correlation between deposit formation and antiherpes cytopathic activity was found. The antiherpes efficacy in vitro and toxicity of the modified lysozymes were compared with those of known antiviral agents. The lysozymes were less toxic than the reference antiviral agents, and some of them were also more active.     

Enhancement of intravesical delivery with Syn3 potentiates interferon-alpha2b gene therapy for superficial bladder cancer

Intravesical administration of interferon alpha-2b protein (IFN) has been successfully used in the treatment of patients with superficial bladder tumors. Local dosing of IFN minimizes well-known systemic side effects of the drug, but exposure to bladder tumors is limited by the duration of instillation and transient concentrations achieved in the urothelium. Intravesical delivery of the gene encoding interferon results in an alternative strategy for IFN-based therapy of the disease, enabling sustained exposure of IFN protein that results from production by tumor and non-tumor cells in the urothelium. Efficient gene delivery and expression of IFN has been achieved using a recombinant adenovirus gene delivery system (rAd-IFN) in conjunction with the novel small molecule excipient Syn3. Studies with rAd-IFN/Syn3 in animal models result in urine concentrations of IFN that persisted for weeks and correlated with potent anti-tumor effects. The objective of this review is to communicate the rationale and preclinical findings that support ongoing clinical investigation of intravesical rAd-IFN/Syn3 in superficial bladder cancer.