Pleotrophic action of interferon gamma in human orbital fibroblasts

Analysis of the two-dimensional electrophoretic patterns of total radiolabeled cellular proteins derived from human orbital fibroblast cultures revealed that interferon gamma (100 U/ml) elicited significant quantitative changes in 42% of 86 randomly-selected proteins relative to untreated cultures. The most substantial up-regulation involved a protein with pI/mw map coordinates of 5.9/54,000 and a heterogenous 5 isoform protein cluster (pIs = 6.1–5.6) of approximately 47- to 50-kDa. These proteins were identified as the previously described 54-kDa protein inducible in interferon gamma-sensitive cell types and type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), respectively. Definition of PAI-1 as an interferon gamma-responsive protein in orbital fibroblasts was confirmed by immunoprecipitation using PAI-1-specific antibodies. Induction of PAI-1 and the 54-kDa protein in orbital fibroblasts, moreover, was relatively specific for interferon gamma since interferon alpha failed to initiate a similar inductive response. The synthesis of a 170 kDa protein, tentatively identified as a collagen, was decreased by approximately 80%. Analysis of the labeled proteins secreted into the culture medium revealed that interferon gamma increased the medium content of fibronectin and decreased the secretion of collagen. It would appear from these data that the inflammatory cytokine can exert regulatory effects on the synthesis of many specific proteins in orbital fibroblasts.     

The action of interferon and reaferon on the functional activity of human thrombocytes

The functional activity of thrombocytes (aggregation, endo- and exocytosis) and erythrocytes (aggregation) in healthy persons given a course of interferon or reaferon treatment has been studied. The results obtained in this study indicate that these preparations produce a modulating effect on the functions of thrombocytes and erythrocytes of donors having shown abnormal functional activity of these blood cells prior to the course of treatment.     

Expression of human interferon beta in the mammary gland of transgenic rabbits

A biotechnological system for the production of human beta interferon was developed on the basis of a hybrid gene constructed from the coding sequence of the beta interferon gene inserted into the first exon of the sheep beta lactoglobulin gene. It is intended for the expression of human beta interferon in mammary glands of transgenic animals. Two lines of transgenic rabbits were obtained using the hybrid gene. The tissue specificity of the expression of the transgene and the frequency of its inheritance in the first and second generations were studied. The activity of interferon was 2.2 x 10(4)-7.2 x 10(4) IU per milliliter of milk of transgenic female rabbits. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2008, vol. 34, no. 2; see also http:// www.maik.ru.     

Expression of human interferon alpha H, an interferon with two potential asparagine-linked glycosylation sites

Of the large number of human alpha interferon genes identified, only one, Hu-IFN-alpha H, contains potential asparagine-linked glycosylation sites. With the use of a new vector that permits convenient expression, site-specific mutation, and DNA sequencing, Hu-IFN-alpha H was expressed in Escherichia coli. The bacterial product which is not glycosylated is fully active demonstrating that the carbohydrate on this species is not required for antiviral activity.     

The antiviral action of interferon

On interferon treatment cells develop an antiviral state. This requires time and RNA and protein synthesis. At least six polypeptides and two enzymes have been reported to be synthesized in increased amounts in response to interferon and a multiplicity of effects have been attributed to it. Interferon has been reported to inhibit virus growth at the level of the uncoating of the virus, virus RNA and protein synthesis and virus maturation. This has led to the acceptance of a multisite model for interferon action. The evidence for this and for the role of two known interferon-mediated enzymes, the 2-5A synthetase and protein kinase, are reviewed.     

Genetic aspects of the immunomodulating action of interferon

The data of the study of alpha/beta interferon (IFN) effect in mice of different genotype were presented. CBA mice of H-2k genotype, C57B1/6 mice of H-2b genotype and their hybrid (CBA X C57B1/6) F1 have been used in the experiments. IFN has been injected intraperitoneally in a dose of 100-5000 U/mouse in combination with antigenic stimulation. It was shown that IFN enhanced stem cells migration from bone marrow in CBA, but not in (CBA X C57B1/6)F1 mice. At the same time the splenocytes from CBA mice were more sensitive to inhibition by IFN than splenocytes from C57B1/6 mice. This was found in antibody and immune rosette-formation tests. The effect of IFN on the immune system cells is probably predetermined by the individual genetic characteristics of a mouse strain.     

Expression of biologically active human interferon alpha 2 in Aloe vera

Methods necessary for the successful transformation and regeneration of Aloe vera were developed and used to express the human protein, interferon alpha 2 (IFN??2). IFN??2 is a secreted cytokine that plays a vital role in regulating the cellular response to viral infection. Transgenic plants were regenerated from callus cultures initiated from zygotic embryos. Expression of the IFNA2 transgene in transformed plants was confirmed by RT-PCR and IFN??2 protein was detected by immunoblot analysis. Human A549 cells treated with transgenic aloe extracts for 6?h induced expression of the interferon stimulated gene 54, indicating activation of the IFN signaling pathway. The biological activity of the aloe produced IFN??2 was assessed using an antiviral assay with A549 cells treated with extracts from both the rind and pulp fractions of the shoot and subsequently infected with the lytic encephalomyocarditis virus. The highest level of activity attributable to recombinant IFN??2 was determined to be 625?IU/mg of total soluble protein (TSP) in the rind and 2,108?IU/mg TSP in the pulp. Two daughter plants that vegetatively budded during the course of this study were also confirmed to express IFN??2. These results confirm that Aloe vera is capable of expressing a human protein with biological activity, and that a secreted protein targeting the apoplast can be detected in the pulp fraction of the plant.     

Expression in Escherichia coli cells of mutant human interferon alpha2

cDNA library was obtained from mRNA isolated from human leukocytes induced by Newcastle disease virus. Clones containing cDNA for alpha 2-interferons were identified by colony hybridization with two synthetic hexadecanucleotides. One of the positive clones contained a NH2-terminal part of cDNA of human interferon identical to cDNA for IFN-alpha 2. The only difference between these two clones was the Ser-8 leads to Asn-8 substitution in deduced sequenced of mature interferons. This mutant interferon, named alpha 2, was expressed in E. coli and its properties were compared with those of interferon alpha 2.     

Mechanism of the antimutagenic action of interferon: the capacity to protect the human cellular repair system

It has been shown that premutagenic treatment with leukocytic interferon (10, 100 IU/ml) of human peripheral blood lymphocytes cultivated in vitro at the G1-stage of the mitotic cycle results in different cell response to gamma-radiation in doses of 0.5, 1, 2, 4 Gy according to chromosome aberration. The antimutagenic effect failed to be attained with the doses 0.5 and 1 Gy, being maximal at the dose 2 Gy. According to sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) cell pretreatment with interferon leads to a reduction in the effect of gamma-radiation at the dose 2 Gy to the level obtained in the cells after exposure to interferon. In experiments with 4-nitroquinoline-I-oxide, there was a significant decrease in the number of SCE in interferon-treated cells.     

Expression in Escherichia coli of chemically synthesized gene for the human immune interferon.

A 454 base pair fragment of double stranded DNA consisting of a gene for a human immune interferon (hIFN-gamma), initiation and termination signals plus appropriate restriction endonuclease sites, was totally synthesized. The synthesis involved preparation of 62 oligodeoxyribonucleotides by rapid, solid phase procedures, and enzymatic ligation of the oligonucleotides. This synthetic gene was expressed in E. coli under the control of the lac UV5 promoter. The product has antiviral activity which was acid labile and completely neutralized by antiserum to hIFN-gamma but not by antiserum to hIFN-alpha or hIFN-beta. Molecular weight of hIFN-gamma produced by E. coli was estimated to be about 32,000 and 17,000 by gel filtration and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis respectively.