Antiviral and protein-inducing activities of recombinant human leukocyte interferons and their hybrids.

The antiviral activities of recombinant human leukocyte interferons IFN-alpha A and IFN-alpha D as well as five hybrids of these interferons against retroviruses, vesicular stomatitis virus, and encephalomyocarditis virus were studied in feline, human, and murine cells. Although these interferon species had widely different potencies, their activities against these viruses were, in general, proportional. The IFN-alpha A/D (Bgl) hybrid was the most potent species, and the IFN-alpha D/A (Bgl) hybrid was the least potent. However, the latter species did not interfere with the action of the former species. Like natural human leukocyte interferon, each of the seven species of recombinant interferons induced the synthesis of at least five proteins in human fibroblasts, whereas induction of only one such protein was readily detected in a feline fibroblast line in which these interferon species inhibited the replication of all three viruses.     

Enhancement of T cell cytotoxic responses by purified human fibroblast interferon.

Purified polyribonucleotide-induced human fibroblast interferon (HFIF) was tested for its effects on proliferative and cytotoxic human T cell responses to alloantigens. The addition of HFIF (100 to 400 IFU/ml) to mixed leukocyte cultures decreased alloantigen-induced lymphocyte proliferative responses as determined by both recovery of responding cells and by 3H-thymidine incorporation into responding cells. However, HFIF, but not the mock interferon preparation, increased the cytotoxic response of T cells to allogeneic cells by 4- to 5-fold when expressed in terms of lytic units. Although fibroblast and leukocyte interferons have different physicochemical and biologic properties, the results reported here are in concert with previous findings concerning the effects of virus-induced leukocyte interferon on human T cell functions.     

Binding of human fibroblast interferon to concanavalin A-agarose. Involvement of carbohydrate recognition and hydrophobic interaction.

Human fibroblast interferon binds to a concanavalin A-agarose (Con A-Sepharose) equilibrated with methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside, or levan; in contrast, it is only partially retarded on a similar column equilibrated with ethylene glycol. Interferon does not bind, however, to a lectin column equilibrated with both methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside and ethylene glycol. Thus, a hydrophobic interaction between fibroblast interferon and the immobilized lectin seems to account for a large portion of the binding forces involved. Other hydrophobic solutes, such as dioxane, 1, 2-propanediol, and tetraethylammonium chloride, were found equally or more efficient than ethylene glycol in displacing interferon from the lectin column. The elution pattern of interferon from a concanavalin A-agarose (Con A-Sepharose) column, at a constant ehtylene glycol concentration and with an increasing mannoside concentration, reveals the existence of four distinct interferon components. The selective adsorption to and elution from a concanavalin A-agarose (Con A-Sepharose) column resulted in about a 3000-fold purification of human fibroblast interferon and complete recovery of activity. The specific activity of the partially purified interferon preparation is about 5 X 10(7) units per mg of protein. The chromatographic behavior of human leukocyte interferon is remarkable in that it does not bind to concanavalin A-agarose at all indicating the absence of carbohydrate moieties recognizable by the lectin, or if present, their masked status. When concanavalin A was coupled to an agarose matrix (cyanogen bromide activated) at pH 8.0 and 6.0 human fibroblast interferon bound to both lectin-agarose adsorbents and could be recovered with methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside. Concanavalin A, immobilized directly on agarose matrix at pH 8.0 and 6.0, thus displays only carbohydrate recognition toward interferon. By contrast, unless a hydrophobic solute was included in the solvent containing methyl mannoside, human fibroblast interferon could not be recovered from concanavalin A-agarose coupled at pH 9.0. When concanavalin A was immobilized via molecular arms, in tetrameric as well as dimeric forms, the binding of interferon again occurred exclusively through carbohydrate recognition. Thus, the hydrophobic interaction can be eliminated by appropriate immobilization of the lectin, and then adsorbed glycoproteins, as exemplified here by interferon, can be recovered readily with methyl mannoside alone.     

Enzymatic modifications of human fibroblast and leukocyte interferons

The sensitivity of highly purified human fibroblast interferon and partially purified human leukocyte interferon to several proteolytic and glycolytic enzymes was determined with respect to antiviral activity, isoelectric point, molecular weight, and thermal stability. Leucine aminopeptidase altered the distribution of isoelectric points for both interferons but produced little change in molecular weights; this enzyme somewhat reduced the activity of only leukocyte interferon. Treatment of fibroblast interferon with carboxypeptidases A and B did not greatly decrease antiviral activity, but it did slightly reduce the molecular weight of the interferon and substantially altered the distribution of isoelectric point values; similar treatment of leukocyte interferon caused some loss in activity, especially of the 17,000-molecular-weight species. Both interferons were inactivated rapidly by treatment with the endoproteases trypsin, pepsin, bromelain, and subtilisin. Chymotrypsin shifted the isoelectric points of both interferons, but only leukocyte interferon was significantly inactivated. Treatment with neuraminidase and beta-galactosidase changed the isoelectric point distribution but did not affect the activity or thermal stability of either interferon; such a treatment reduced the molecular weight of fibroblast interferon and the size heterogeneity of leukocyte interferon. Treatment with neuraminidase and then leucine aminopeptidase greatly reduced the activity of both interferons, especially leukocyte interferon. The data indicate that biologically active forms of fibroblast and leukocyte interferons can be distinguished by their relative sensitivity to certain proteases.     

Effect of interferons on dengue virus multiplication in cultured monocytes/macrophages

The effects of interferons on dengue virus multiplication in cultured human and mouse monocytes/macrophages were studied. Interferon treatment before, but not after virus inoculation suppressed virus multiplication dose-dependently. Recombinant human leukocyte A interferon was as effective as ordinary human fibroblast interferon in suppressing dengue virus multiplication in cultured human monocytes. Human monocytes, a population of non-proliferating cell lineage, maintained their interferon-mediated antiviral state for a few days after removal of the interferons.     

Analysis of the herpes simplex virus genome during in vitro latency in human diploid fibroblasts and rat sensory neurons.

We have previously designed in vitro model systems to characterize the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) genome during in vitro virus latency. Latency was established by treatment of infected human embryo lung fibroblast (HEL-F) cells or rat fetal neurons with (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine and human leukocyte interferon and was maintained by increasing the incubation temperature after inhibitor removal. Virus was reactivated by reducing the incubation temperature. We have now examined the HSV-1-specific DNA content of latently infected HEL-F cells and rat fetal neurons treated with (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine and human leukocyte interferon and increased temperature. The HEL-F cell population contained, on an average, between 0.25 and 0.5 copies of most, if not all, HSV-1 HindIII and XbaI DNA fragments per haploid cell genome equivalent. In contrast, the latently infected neurons contained, on an average, 8 to 10 copies per haploid cell genome equivalent of most HSV-1 BamHI DNA fragments. There was no detectable alteration in size or molarity of the HSV-1 terminal or junction DNA fragments obtained by HindIII, XbaI, or BamHI digestion of the latently infected neuron or HEL-F cell DNA, as compared with digestion of a reconstruction mixture of purified HSV-1 virion and HEL-F cell DNAs. These data suggest that the predominant form of the HSV-1 genome in either latently infected cell population is nonintegrated, linear, and nonconcatameric.     

The absence of introns within a human fibroblast interferon gene.

Experiments in which immobilised restriction fragments of genomic DNA were hybridised with a cloned human fibroblast interferon cDNA indicate that the homologous chromosomal genes exist in only one basic arrangement. This is in marked contrast to recent studies by Nagata et al. (1) showing that there are at least eight gene arrangements for human leukocyte interferon. Having isolated a chromosomal human fibroblast interferon gene from a gene bank, we conclude from nucleotide sequencing studies that there is a complete absence of introns within the RNA-coding region. In view of a similar observation recently made for a human leukocyte interferon gene (1), it would appear as if interferon genes in general are unlike the vast majority of eukaryote genes in this respect.     

Presence of human chromosome 21 alone is sufficient for hybrid cell sensitivity to human interferon.

Human/mouse somatic cell hybrids with chromosome 21 as the only detectable human genetic material were sensitive to both human leukocyte and fibroblast interferons. The presence of additional human chromosomes decreased the amount of interferon needed to attain a given level of virus resistance. Decreased cytopathic effects, decreased virus yields, and the appearance of a specific phosphorylated protein associated with interferon treatment were all observed in hybrids maintaining only human chromosome 21. The phosphorylated protein found in extracts of these human interferon-treated hybrid cells was of mouse origin.     

Molecular weight of the functional unit of human leukocyte, fibroblast, and immune interferons

There is good agreement between the target molecular weight and the known molecular weight of human leukocyte interferons (about 20,000). The target molecular weight of fibroblast interferon, 31,000 to 42,000, is significantly larger than the monomer molecular weight of 21,000 to 24,000, suggesting that the dimer may be the predominant active functional unit in solution. A range from 63,000 to 73,000 for the target molecular weight of several different fractions of immune interferon (including natural crude as well as the recombinant form) indicates that the functional form of the immune interferon may be a trimer or tetramer. Thus, these studies indicate that the functional unit of leukocyte interferon is the monomer, that of fibroblast interferon is a dimer, and that of immune interferon is probably a tetramer (or trimer).     

Regulatory effects of macrophage-secreted factors on T-lymphocyte colony growth.

Human fibroblast and leukocyte interferons were found to suppress lymphocyte mitogenesis induced by optimal doses of phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A. In certain situations (low doses of mitogen and/or low doses of interferon), however, interferon significantly enhanced mitogenesis. In experiments using varying concentrations of interferon, dose-response curves with different slopes were obtained for fibroblast and leukocyte interferons. The effect of interferon was apparently exerted during early stages of the lymphocyte cell cycle. There was no inhibitory effect of interferon if the lymphocytes were washed with medium before being exposed to mitogen. Interferon increased the binding of radiolabeled mitogens to cells. The results suggest that the immunological effects of interferon are consequences of actions on lymphoid cells. Fibroblast and leukocyte interferons seem to have different modes of action, or to bind differently to target cells. Possible mechanisms for the suppressive and enhancing effects of interferons on lymphoid cells are discussed.     

Fibroblast interferon in man is coded by two loci on separate chromosomes.

We have examined viral and poly(rl):poly(rC) induction of interferon synthesis in several human, mouse and Chinese hamster cell lines, and in hybrids derived from the fusion of such cells. We observed species and cell-type differences in inducer effectiveness and in the kinetics of interferon production. In some cases, parental characteristics are preserved in somatic cell hybrids, and in other cases, the expression of the donor phenotype is modulated by the epigenetic state of the recipient cell. Mapping studies in human/mouse and human/Chinese hamster hybrids indicate that there are at least two structural genes for human fibroblast interferon. Chromosomes 2 and 5 each contain genetic information for the synthesis of fibroblast interferon. Gene dosage experiments indicate that one gene is on the long arm of chromosome 2 and another is on the short arm of chromosome 5. Leukocyte interferon genes could not be mapped to these chromosomes, but this negative result could be influenced by the epigenetic state of the hybrid cells.     

Synthesis of human fibroblast interferon by E. coli

A cDNA library was constructed using mRNA from human fibroblasts induced with poly(I):poly(C). A bacterial clone containing fibroblast interferon cDNA sequences was identified by hybridization to a cDNA probe synthesized using deoxyoligonucleotide primers which hybridize to fibroblast interferon mRNA specifically. Expression plasmids were constructed which permitted the synthesis in E. coli of 8 x 10(7) units of human fibroblast interferon per liter of culture. The bacterially produced fibroblast interferon is indistinguishable from authentic human fibroblast interferon by several criteria.     

Inhibitory effect of interferons and tumor necrosis factor on syncytium formation by bovine leukemia virus

The treatments of the bovine spleen cells BESp with recombinant human leukocyte interferon (HuIFN-alpha A) and human fibroblast interferon (HuIFN-beta) inhibit the syncytium formation by bovine leukemia virus (BLV) and the virus yield, depending on the IFN doses. But HuIFN-gamma did not inhibit the syncytium formation. The tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) also inhibits the syncytium formation and the virus yield, depending on the TNF doses. Furthermore, the combination of the HuIFN-alpha A with the TNF inhibits the syncytium formation more strongly than the HuIFN-alpha A alone or the TNF alone.     

Induction of interferon in hybrid clones: Vero 153--mouse myeloma and Vero 153--human lymphocyte cells

A Vero cell line (Vero 153) resistant to 8-azaguanine and unresponsive to viral induction of interferon was isolated. This primate (African green) cell line was fused with mouse myeloma (S194/5) and normal human lymphocytes from peripheral blood. All Vero 153--mouse hybrids, 8 primary and 12 secondary clones, produced virus-induced mouse but not primate interferon. This occurred even in cultures where greater than 90% of primate chromosomes were retained. Similarly 7 primary and 3 secondary Vero 153--human clones synthesized virus-induced interferon. This could be neutralized by anti-human fibroblast (beta) but not by anti-human leukocyte (alpha) interferon antisera. The unresponsive nature of Vero 153 cells to interferon induction by viruses was not changed by the presence of interferon producing genomes from other cells. However, despite the inability to produce interferon, the Vero cell was able to play a role in the determination of the type of interferon made in the hybrid cell.     

Nonsensitized lymphocytes produce leukocyte interferon when cultured with foreign cells.

Nonsensitized human lymphocytes produce interferon when cultured with either transformed or normal heterologous cells. De novo RNA and protein synthesis was not required in a foreign cell for it to act as the inducer. The interferon produced has been characterized as being leukocyte type rather than immune or fibroblast type.     

Antibody to staphylococcal enterotoxin A-induced human immune interferon (IFN gamma)

Antiserum to human gamma interferon (IFN gamma) was produced in rabbits immunized with partially purified (10(4.8) to 10(6.2) antiviral U/mg protein) staphylococcal enterotoxin A-induced IFN gamma. Staphylococcal enterotoxins, phytohemagglutinin M, concanavalin A, and pokeweed mitogen-induced antiviral activity in human leukocyte cultures was neutralized to undetectable levels by the antiserum. However, human leukocyte interferon (IFN alpha), human fibroblast interferon (IFN beta), and mouse interferons were not neutralized by the antiserum. After determining the antiserum was specific for IFN gamma and did not neutralize other known types of interferon, it was used with antibody to human IFN alpha to demonstrate the type(s) of interferon stimulated by some new inducers and antigens. Galactose oxidase- and calcium ionophore-induced interferons were neutralized to undetectable levels by the antiserum to IFN gamma. Interferon produced in leukocyte cultures from tuberculin-negative individuals stimulated with tuberculin-purified protein derivative or old tuberculin was IFN alpha, whereas interferon from tuberculin-positive individuals was a combination of alpha and gamma IFN. In addition, the antiserum neutralized the anticellular and natural killer cell enhancement activities of IFN gamma preparations. The specificity of this antiserum for IFN gamma indicates that it is an additional, powerful tool for identifying and classifying known and new interferons produced in vitro or in vivo and for investigating the role(s) of IFN gamma during the course of infectious, neoplastic, and autoimmune diseases.     

Alveolar macrophage lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid: isolation and recognition as the predominant constituents of the neutrophil chemotactic activity elaborated by alveolar macrophages

Human immune interferon preparations have anticellular activity on human cell lines (WISH and HEp-2). This anticellular activity copurified with the human immune interferon and appears to be a function of the immune interferon molecule. On the basis of a unit of antiviral activity, purified human immune interferon had about 20 and 100 times more anticellular activity than purified fibroblast or leukocyte interferon, respectively. The possible implications of this finding in the treatment of human neoplasia are discussed.     

Inhibition of macrophage migration by virus-induced interferon preparations.

It was found that a preparation of mouse L cell interferon induced by Newcastle disease virus (NDV) possessed not only interferon activity but also inhibitory activity upon migration of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages (MIF activity). These activities were also observed in a preparation of human leukocyte interferon induced by NDV. The interferon and MIF activities shared common characteristics in the dose response, time course of in vitro production, thermal stability, sensitivity to trypsin and periodate, and elution pattern in CM-Sephadex column chromatography. However, gel filtration pattern with Sephadex G-100 showed two separate peaks. Fractions collected from the first peak, corresponding to a molecular weight of about 45 000, had only the MIF activity, while those collected from the second peak, corresponding to a molecular weight of about 30 000, had both the interferon and MIF activities. A preparation of mouse brain interferon induced by Japanese encephalitis virus had a much weaker MIF activity than the L cell interferon, although these preparations were equal in interferon activity (5000 units/ml).     

Separation of human leukocyte interferon components by concanavalin A-agarose affinity chromatography and their characterization.

Human leukocyte interferon (HL-IF), produced by mixed leukocytes infected with Newcastle disease virus, was resolved into three distinct fractions when chromatographed on concanavalin A-agarose. The major portion (70--75%) of interferon appeared in the breakthrough (BT fraction). The bound interferon (25--30%) was displaced from the column as two peaks: the first was eluted with 0.01 M methyl alpha-D-mannoside, yielding 15-20% of the interferon activity (alpha-MM fraction), and the second by including ethylene glycol (70%) in the eluant, yielding the remaining 5--15% of the interferon (EG fraction). No interferon was retained when HL-IF produced in the presence of glycosylation inhibitors (tunicamycin or 2-deoxy-D-glucose) was chromatographed on concanavalin A-agarose, suggesting that the fraction of interferon retained by this lectin is glycosylated. The three fractions of interferon (BT, alpha-MM, and EG) were characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, cross-species antiviral activity, and neutralization by specific antisera. The BT fraction contains exclusively the 16 000 molecular weight component of human leukocyte interferon. The majority of the alpha-MM fraction (90%) is the 21 000 molecular weight component. However, the EG fraction contains the 16 000 and 21 000--23 000 molecular weight components in essentially equal proportions. On the basis of cross-species antiviral activity and neutralization by specific antisera, the BT and alpha-MM fractions are leukocyte-type interferon and the EG fraction seems to be primarily of fibroblast type.     

Dissociation of protein kinase activity and the induction of the antiviral state in a cell line responsive to the antiviral effects of interferon

Interferons or oxidized glutathione were found to induce double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase activity in mouse L cells that phosphorylates the α subunit of eukaryotic peptide initiation factor 2. A mixture of leukocyte/fibroblast interferons as well as immune interferon induced the protein kinase and also suppressed virus replication in the L cells. Oxidized glutathione was equally effective in inducing protein kinase activity, but it did not induce an antiviral state in these cells. The data suggest that a simple cause and effect relationship does not exist between protein kinase induction and the establishment of the antiviral state in a cell that is responsive to the antiviral effects of interferon.