Treatment of schizophrenic disorder,paranoid type,with intramuscular recombinant alpha-2b interferon

Twenty patients meeting DSM-III criteria for Schizophrenic Disorder, Paranoid Type were studied. After a 30 day drug-free period the patients were randomized in two groups. During a year, patients in Group 1 received intramuscular injections of a placebo while Group 2 received recombinant IFN alpha-2b. Both groups took anti-psychotic medication (APM) as needed on an individual basis, depending on their psychiatric symptomatology. Double blind evaluations, were performed at the beginning and at the end of the trial, using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Reyes Scale for Social Evolution (RSSE). Information about relapses was gathered such as months without relapse, number and duration of the relapses and maximum dosages of APM given for relapse control. The statistical analysis of the results was performed with a matched pairs sign or Student's t tests for comparisons of each group before and after treatment. Groups were compared between them using the Fisher's exact test for frequencies and Student's t test for continuous variables. In Group 1: only one patient improved on the BPRS score; two had improved ratings on the RSSE; 2 patients got worse; and there were no changes in the rest of the group; three patients had no relapses and one increased in relapse frequency. These changes were not significant. The rate of relapses per year and their duration were not significantly modified in Group 1. The maximum dose of APM required for their relapse control was larger than before treatment although not significantly. All these patients required continuous APM. In Group 2 (IFN treated): 6 patients had improved BPRS scores (N=6, K=6, p<0.01) and 5 improved their RSSE scores (n=5, K=5, p<0.05). In 5 patients there were no relapses on their frequency decreased. There was significant reduction in the duration of the relapses (37.8±14.6 to 20.7±12.5 days; t=4.83; d.f.=9; p=0.0009) after treatment. Only 3 patients in Group 2 needed continuous APM after a relapse and the maximum dose required for control was significantly less (1281±527 to 687±552 chlorpromazine-equivalent mg. per day; t=5.56, p < 0.001). Comparisons between groups showed advantage for the IFN treated group in the BPRS change, proportion of patients needing continuous APM and integral evaluation. These results indicate that alpha IFN may be useful in the treatment of Schizophrenic Disorder, Paranoid Type.Abbreviations IFN Interferon - CSF cerebrospinal fluid - RSSE Reyes Scale for Social Evolution - APM antipsychotic medication - BBB blood-brain barrier - mRNA ribonucleic acid messenger - DSM-III Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - JCG Juan Cordero Gutierrez - OFL Odalys Fernandez Lopez - BPRS Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale - ECT Electroconvulsive treatment - IgG immunoglobulin G - EEG Electroencephalogram - SD standard deviation - CNS Central Nervous System     

疏水相互作用层析分离重组人干扰素α2b

目的采用疏水相互作用层析分离重组人干扰素α2b,去除干扰素样品中的二聚体,得到高纯度的干扰素用于进一步的研究。方法首先采用阳离子交换层析纯化复性重组人干扰素α2b,去除了大部分的杂蛋白,然后采用疏水相互作用层析纯化重组人干扰素α2b,去除复性过程中产生的错误折叠体和二聚体,并考察盐浓度、pH值、流速和洗脱液中尿素对疏水相互作用层析纯化效果的影响。结果硫酸铵初始浓度1.2 mol/L、缓冲液pH值6.0、流速2.5 mL/min、洗脱液中添加尿素浓度为2 mol/L时疏水相互作用层析纯化效果最佳。最终得到的重组人干扰素α2b非还原型SDS-PAGE电泳均呈单一条带。结论确定了疏水层析纯化重组人干扰素α2b的最优条件,成功提取到具有高活性、高纯度的重组人干扰素α2b纯品。     

Aggregation of recombinant human interferon alpha 2b in solution: Technical note

Sodium phosphate buffer increased the aggregation of rhIFN-α2b in the range of 1.55 to 1.810³ day⁻¹, as determined by SDS/PAGE under reduced and nonreduced conditions. In contrast, sodium citrate buffer decreased the aggregation rate of this cytokine, as compared with those samples in sodium phosphate buffer. Results from sodium citrate-phosphate buffer were very similar to those obtained with sodium citrate solutions. On the other hand, EDTA Na₂×2H₂O reduced the aggregation rate of rhIFN-α2b, showing an aggregation kinetic constant in the range of 0.52 to 0.75×10³ day⁻¹. Polysorbates 20 and 80 were less effective than the chelating agent in preventing this degradation pathway.     

Overexpression and purification of recombinant human interferon alpha2b in Escherichia coli

Overexpression of rhIFN-alpha2b was obtained by synthesizing a codon optimized gene for IFN-alpha2b and expressing it in the form of inclusion bodies (IBs) in Escherichia coli. The recombinant plasmid pRSET-IFNalpha, which had the IFN-alpha2b gene under the T7 promoter, was coexpressed with plasmid pGP1-2, which carried the gene for T7 RNA polymerase under the heat inducible lambdaP(L) promoter. This two plasmid expression system was optimized with respect to heat shock time, media, and time of induction in shake flask cultures. This was then scaled up into a bioreactor to get a maximum volumetric product yield of 5.2g/L at a final OD(600) of 67. At this point, the IBs represented approximately 40% of the total cellular protein. This high specific product yields eased the further downstream processing steps and improved product recoveries. The IBs were isolated and purified through ion exchange followed by step refolding to give a final product yield of approximately 3g/L, which is maximum reported in the literature. The bioassay of the refolded protein gave a specific activity of approximately 3 x 10(9)IU/mg protein.     

Long-term treatment with recombinant interferon alpha-2b prolongs survival of asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals

Rationale and objective: Early long-term treatment with recombinant interferon (IFN) alpha-2b delayed disease progression in asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) carriers in a randomized trial that lasted from October 1987 to February 1992 (14). The aim of the work reported in this paper was to observe if there was also an effect on survival when the same patients were followed-up further. Design and interventions: IFN alpha-2b was given 3 × 10⁶ IU, 3 times weekly. The control group did not receive any treatment. The main end-point for this evaluation was death due to any cause. The deadline was August 1995. Population: Subjects were anti-HIV-1 seropositive, Western blot-confirmed, asymptomatic (CDC group II), or with generalized lymphadenopathies (CDC group III). The groups had 79 (control) and 83 (IFN) patients. Main results: Mean survival was longer in the IFN group (95% CI: 127–152 vs. 101–120 months since infection or 80–90 vs. 70–82 months since the start of treatment). Survival rates were higher in IFN-treated individuals (61–77% vs. 24–54% at 10 years of infection or 53–69% vs. 34–52% at 7 years of treatment or follow-up). It was also confirmed that disease progression is significantly slower in IFN-treated patients. There were 23.4 vs. 3.2% long-term survivors in the IFN and control groups, respectively (p=0.005). IFN-treated patients had fewer AIDS-related malignancies (5 vs. 11), mainly Kaposi’s sarcomas (1 vs. 5). This difference was not statistically significant, but clinically interesting. There was no difference in survival if measured since the onset of AIDS. Conclusion: IFN alpha treatment given from the early stages of infection, but not after the appearance of AIDS symptoms, can prolong survival.     

The detection of antibodies to recombinant interferon alfa-2a in human serum

Three different procedures have been used for detecting antibodies to Roferon-A (recombinant human interferon alfa-2a, rHuIFN alpha-2a) in the serum of patients who received this interferon as part of ongoing clinical trials: an antiviral neutralization bioassay (ANB), the standard method recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the more recently developed radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzymeimmunoassay (EIA). Although the three tests are based on different principles, the correlation among them was excellent. The assays show differences in sensitivities with the ANB being the least sensitive of the three. The EIA equals the RIA in sensitivity, reproducibility, accuracy and labor and provides the advantage of safety and convenience in the use of non-radioactive materials. Therefore, the EIA has been selected as the most suitable assay for initial screening of the sera of patients receiving Roferon-A for the presence of antibodies to this interferon. EIA positive sera are then tested in the ANB to determine whether or not neutralizing activities are present.     

Antioxidant impact on specific antiviral activity of human recombinant interferon alpha-2b with respect to Herpes simplex in cell culture

In vitro synergistic antiviral effect of interferon alpha-2b in combination with unithiol (an antioxidant) on diverse variants of Herpes simplex, including the clinical acyclovir-resistant isolates, was demonstrated. Unithiol showed immediate antiherpes activity in the cell culture. However, its activity was lower than that of ascorbic acid, another highly active antioxidant. It was also observed that the specific antiherpes activity of interferon alpha-2b in the presence of unithiol increased several times. The data could be useful in the clinical practice, since the drugs combinations or complex formulations provide higher efficacy of the herpetic infection therapy with the use of the same concentrations of the available agents.     

Treatment of thrombocytosis in myeloproliferative disorders with interferon alpha-2a

In an open prospective pilot trial, we tested the effect of recombinant interferon alpha-2 a (rIFN alpha-2 a) on thrombocytosis in myeloproliferative disorders (MPD). Since October 1986, 13 patients with MPD (4 with chronic granulocytic leukemia, 4 with polycythemia vera, 3 with essential thrombocythemia and 2 with myeloid metaplasia) were treated with rIFN alpha-2 a. Platelet counts decreased in all treated patients within 2 to 10 weeks from a median value of 1,050 x 10(9)/l (range 610-1,940 x 10(9)/l) to 340 x 10(9)/l (range 230-495 x 10(9)/l). The response was dose-dependent. In 11 patients we observed a simultaneous reduction of the white blood cell count. Six patients still continue the IFN alpha-2 a therapy. In 7 treatment was discontinued, because of chronic side effects in 3, and because of noncompliance in one. In these patients, thrombocytosis recurred after discontinuation of the therapy. These results show that rIFN alpha-2 a is effective in controlling thrombocytosis in MPD. However, the long-term benefit of interferon in these disorders remains to be established.     

重组干扰素α-2b栓治疗宫颈人乳头瘤病毒亚临床感染的疗效及安全性观察

目的探讨重组干扰素α-2b栓治疗宫颈人乳头瘤病毒（HPV）亚临床感染的疗效及安全性观察。方法选择宫颈HPV亚临床感染患者80例,随机分为观察组与对照组。观察组患者予以重组人干扰素α-2b栓阴道内放置,每晚1枚,隔日1次,10d为1个疗程,连用3个疗程。对照组患者予以双唑泰栓阴道塞入,每晚1枚,隔日1次,10d为1个疗程,连用3个疗程。观察并比较两组患者治疗后的临床疗效及药物不良反应情况。结果治疗3个疗程后,观察组患者临床总有效率为95．0％,明显高于对照组的80．0％（X^2=4．11,P〈0．05）。对照组与观察组治疗期间分别出现不良反应4例和2例,均为阴道瘙痒,症状较轻微,未发生严重的药物不良反应。两组患者治疗期间不良反应发生率比较差异无统计学意义（X^2=0．18,P〉0．05）。结论重组干扰素α-2b栓治疗宫颈HPV亚临床感染的疗效较肯定,具有不良反应轻,安全性较好,使用方便等优点。     

Obtaining of ScFv-CBD fusion protein and its application for affinity purification of recombinant human interferon alpha2b

The gene of ScFv-CBD-fusion protein has been designed using the DNA sequences encoding of single-chain antibody (ScFv) against human interferon alpha2b (IFN-alpha2b) and cellulose-binding domain (CBD) from Clostridium thermocellum cellulosome. Biosynthesis of ScFv-CBD utilizing high-productive Escherichia coli system was carried out and the accumulation of target protein in bacterial inclusion bodies was shown. After the purification of the inclusion bodies and their subsequent in vitro refolding the soluble ScFv-CBD-fusion protein was directly immobilized on cellulose by bioaffinity coupling. The possibility to obtain the preparative quantities of ScFv-CBD in biologically-active form using different refolding schemes was accurately investigated in the paper. The general applicability of biologically immobilized ScFv-CBD-fusion proteins for affinity purification of recombinant IFN-alpha2b is shown.     

Biological activities of human recombinant interferon alpha/beta targeted by anti-Epstein-Barr virus monoclonal antibodies

The requirement of high doses of interferon (IFN) during therapy severely restrict its application. Thus a model using an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) membrane antigen (MA) specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) was developed to assess the feasibility of coupling minimal amounts of IFN to a MAb and specifically delivering the IFN to the target cells. Coupled IFN was first shown to retain fully both its anti-viral and anti-proliferative properties when tested on human tumor cell lines QIMR-WIL (EBV-MA+) and the U-266 (EBV-MA-). A series of in vitro pulsing experiments demonstrated the specific targeting of both the anti-viral and anti-proliferative properties of IFN to the EBV-MA+ QIMR-WIL cells and not EBV-MA- cell lines.     

Inhibition of fibroblast chemotaxis by recombinant human interferon gamma and interferon alpha

Interferons have recently been recognized as potent mediators in inflammatory processes, exerting profound effects on fibroblasts. The influence of interferons gamma and alpha on the chemotactic movement of fibroblasts toward various attractants was, therefore, investigated. Normal human adult and embryonal dermal fibroblasts, fibrosarcoma-derived fibroblasts and SV40-transformed fibroblasts were tested against conditioned medium from fibroblasts, the chemotactic peptide C-140 of fibronectin, platelet-derived growth factor, and leukotriene B4 as attractants in the presence or absence of the interferons. Interferons gamma and alpha inhibited chemotaxis in a dose-dependent manner and at concentrations at least as low as 10(-2) ng/ml. Inhibition was noticeable when the cells were exposed to interferon for as short a period as 60 minutes, and the effect was not readily reversible. Inhibition occurred when the cells came from sparse or dense cultures, but when platelet-derived growth factor was the attractant and the cells had been grown at low density there was no inhibition. It is concluded that this is a specific effect, not to be wholly explained by overall increase in membrane rigidity. Inhibition of fibroblast chemotaxis by interferons may be an important regulatory mechanism during wound healing or fibrosis and metastatic spread of tumor cells.     

Purification and properties of a novel recombinant human hybrid interferon, delta-4 alpha 2/alpha 1

The human interferon (huIFN) delta-4 alpha 2(5-62)/alpha 1(64-166) is a genetically engineered hybrid that consists of residues 5-62 of huIFN alpha 2 and residues 64-166 of huIFN alpha 1. This variant contains four cysteine residues at positions 29, 86, 99 and 139, but does not contain the cysteine at position 1 that is characteristic of naturally occurring huIFN alpha subtypes. This novel recombinant hybrid was purified from Escherichia coli to greater than 95% homogeneity. The purification was based on ethanol extraction of a trichloroacetic acid precipitate and Matrex Gel Blue A chromatography followed by either a selective precipitation or DEAE-Sepharose chromatography. The purified protein that was treated with 2-mercaptoethanol exhibited two closely migrating bands on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with apparent molecular weight values of 17,800 and 17,100, both of which exhibited antiviral activity. Electrophoresis performed without prior reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol indicated only a minor extent of intermolecular disulfide bonding. The purified protein exhibited a high specific antiviral activity of 7 x 10(7) units/mg when assayed on human fibroblast cells and, in distinction to the parental huIFN alpha 2, it also demonstrated antiviral activity on human fibroblast cells and, in distinction to the parental huIFN alpha 2, it also demonstrated antiviral activity on murine L929 cells. The level of antiproliferative activity of huIFN delta-4 alpha 2(5-62)/alpha 1(64-166) on various cell lines of different histological origin appeared to be more comparable to that of huIFN alpha 1 than huIFN alpha 2. The data suggest that huIFN delta-4 alpha 2(5-62)/alpha 1(64-166) hybrid may be a useful tool for understanding huIFN structure-function relations.     

Treatment of recurrent common warts with one low dose of intralesional natural human leukocyte interferon alpha

Nine patients with recurrent and long lasting common warts were treated with intralesional Hu-IFN-alpha. The schedule was a single dose per wart, ranged between 10(5) and 2 x 10(5) IU. Placebo was also administered in 3 of these patients. Complete remission was observed in 7 of the 9 patients. The pattern of warts involution and the possible interferon mechanism of action are discussed. A significant pain relief, produced by interferon injection was observed in the patients with plantar warts and in one patient with subungueal wart.     

Translational features of human alpha 2b interferon production in Escherichia coli

The yield of human alpha 2b interferon in Escherichia coli was optimized by replacement of low-usage arginine codons located in the mRNA 5' end. The differences observed among the various gene variants suggest that codon usage, Shine-Dalgarno-like sequences, and mRNA secondary structure contribute to the performance of E. coli translation machinery.     

Mass spectrometric characterization of the isoforms in Escherichia coli recombinant DNA-derived interferon alpha-2b

The isoforms Iso-2, Iso-3, and Iso-4 of Escherichia coli-derived recombinant human interferon alpha-2b (rhIFN α-2b), generated by posttranslational modifications of the protein during fermentation, present a major problem in terms of purification and the yield of the drug substance. We report here the structural characterization of these isoforms by mass spectrometry (MS) methods. An extensive MS study was conducted on Iso-4, which is composed of up to 75% of the in-process IFN, and on the native rhIFN α-2b. The trypsin-digested peptide mixtures generated from the two samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography (LC)–MS, and targeted peptides were further studied by LC–tandem MS (triple quadrupole mass spectrometer), high-resolution MSⁿ (LTQ Orbitrap), and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization MS (MALDI–MS). The structure of Iso-4 was elucidated as a novel pyruvic acid ketimine derivative of the N-terminal cysteine (Cys1) of IFN α-2b, where the disulfide bond between Cys1 and Cys98 was fully reduced and the other disulfide bond pair, Cys29-ss-Cys138, was partially reduced. Similarly, Iso-2 was identified as a correctly disulfide-folded rhIFN α-2b with acetylation on Cys1, and Iso-3 was identified as an S-glutathionylated form (Cys98) of partially reduced rhIFN α-2b that was pyruvated on Cys1. Based on the characterization work, a reproducible conversion procedure was successfully implemented to convert Iso-4 to rhIFN α-2b.     

Treatment of rotavirus infection in neonate and weanling pigs using natural human interferon alpha

Colostrum-deprived neonate piglets challenged with rotavirus and 3-week-old newly weaned piglets naturally exposed to rotavirus were treated with low doses of natural human interferon alpha (nHuIFN alpha) administered into the oral cavity or included in the liquid diet. The colostrum-deprived piglets given the highest dosage of nHuIFN alpha (50 IU/kg body weight) had lower viral excretion scores at 3 (p less than 0.11) and 4 days (p less than 0.001) after virus inoculation. Average group weights and weight gains were consistently greater for all nHuIFN alpha-treated neonate groups; however, these differences were not significant. Mortality rates were lower in neonates for the three highest nHuIFN alpha treatment groups (20%, 30%, and 20%) than in the lowest treatment group and controls (60% and 45%, respectively). Three-week-old weanling piglets did not have significant differences in the total average diarrhea or rotavirus excretion scores. After 10 days, the group receiving the highest dosage of nHuIFN alpha had significantly greater average weight gain than the control group (p less than 0.05). There was a significant (p less than 0.01) dose-dependent effect between the logarithm10 of the nHuIFN alpha dosage and weight gain in weanling piglets. There were no death losses in the 3-week-old weanling piglets from natural rotavirus exposure.     

重组人干扰素α2b凝胶联合乳酸菌阴道胶囊对宫颈高危型HPV持续感染的治疗

目的 观察重组人干扰素α2b凝胶联合乳酸菌阴道胶囊治疗宫颈高危型人乳头瘤病毒(highrisk human papillomavirus,HPV)持续感染的临床效果。 方法 将110例宫颈高危型HPV持续感染而液基细胞学检查阴性的患者随机分为两组,其中对照组(58例)予以重组人干扰素α2b凝胶治疗,观察组(52例)予以重组人干扰素α2b凝胶联合乳酸菌阴道胶囊治疗,两组患者均连续治疗3个月经周期。比较两组患者HPV转阴率及阴道微生态改善情况。 结果 观察组患者治疗总有效率(82.69%)高于对照组(63.79%),差异有统计学意义(χ2=4.937,P=0.026)。治疗后,两组患者阴道微生态失调率均有所下降,且观察组改善情况更为显著(均P结论 在重组人干扰素α2b凝胶治疗的基础上联合应用乳酸菌阴道胶囊能明显提高宫颈高危型HPV持续感染的转阴率,其中促进阴道微生态恢复平衡可能是其发挥作用的机制之一。