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Interferon induction with Newcastle disease virus in FS-4 cells: effect of priming with interferon and of virus inactivating treatments.

Inoculation of human FS-4 cells with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) resulted in the induction of two distinct interferon responses, one that peaked at about 5 hr (early response) and one that reached a maximum between 10 to 24 hr after inoculation (second response). The early interferon response was enhanced by previous treatment of the cells with interferon (priming), whereas the second response decreased after interferon treatment in a dose-dependent manner. The early response diminished with decreasing multiplicities of infection, the magnitude of the second response in unprimed cells was relatively independent of the dose of NDV employed. The early interferon response was sensitive to inhibition by actinomycin D for only 1 hr after inoculation. In marked contrast, the second response remained sensitive to inhibition by actinomycin D until 12 hr after inoculation. The ability of NDV to induce the second response was greatly diminished by irradiation of the virus with ultraviolet light or by its treatment with hydroxylamine, whereas the ability to stimulate the early response was relatively resistant to these virus-inactivating treatments. Treatment of NDV with hydroxylamine abolished the virus to induce the second response at the same rate as it destroyed infectivity. The results suggest the existence of at least two distinct mechanisms of interferon induction by NDV; the early response is triggered either by a virion component or by a product of primary transcription, whereas induction of the second response requires the expression of some functions of the virus not needed for triggering the early response.

Animals↗

Rat interferons. VI. Heterologous interferon in the treatment of viral infections.

In previous studies in vitro we demonstrated the protection of mouse cells against viral infections by rat interferon. In continuation, the present paper reports results of a study designed to confirm this heterospecific activity of rat interferon in vivo. Experiments were carried out with mice of the inbred 129/AoBoy strain, inoculated intranasally or intraperitoneally with EMC-strain Col MM, VSV and influenza A 055/74 viruses, and treated with mouse or rat interferon administered by the same routes as infection. Both interferons exhibited protective action. The therapeutic effect of the mouse and rat interferons was dependent on the infecting dose of the viruses. Rat interferon proved more effective in the treatment of mice infected intraperitoneally than mice infected intranasally.

Animals↗

[Indices of alpha-interferon and of lymphocyte natural killer activity in genital herpes and the effect on them of specific vaccinal therapy and interferon therapy].

Fifty-six patients with recurrent genital herpes (RGH) and 53 normal subjects were examined. No interferon was found in the blood sera of the patients either in the period of the disease relapse or during remission. The leukocyte capacity to produce interferon in vitro (leukocyte interferon reaction, LIR) in the patients was found to be 4-5 times lower than in normal subjects. Study of the normal killer activity of lymphocytes in patients with RGH as compared with that in normal subjects revealed its decrease in 37.5% of the patients and only in 5.1% of normal subjects. Interferon therapy with purified human leukocyte interferon given to 36 patients with RGH resulted in clinical improvement in 88.9% of the patients that was accompanied by increasing normal killer activity of lymphocytes. Vaccine therapy given to 35 patients resulted in a stable clinical effect in 91.4% of the patients, however, without activation of LIR in them. It is concluded that the therapeutic effects of interferon therapy and vaccine therapy have different mechanisms.

Adult↗

Interferons as gene activators. Cloning of the 5' terminus and the control segment of an interferon activated gene.

Treatment of cells with interferons induces various mRNAs and the corresponding proteins. We have described previously the isolation of a mouse cDNA clone (cDNA clone 202) which specifies an mRNA whose level is increased 20-fold in beta-interferon-treated Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. The increase is a consequence of an increased rate of transcription. The mRNA encodes a 56,000-dalton protein. We report here the isolation of a genomic clone including the 5' terminus of the 202 gene with the interferon-responsive region. Experiments involving primer extension and protection from cleavage by S1 nuclease revealed the existence of multiple 5' termini of 202 mRNAs in Ehrlich ascites tumor and Ltk- cells. Treatment with beta-interferon increased the level of these 202 mRNAs with different 5' termini nonuniformly. A 0.8-kilobase DNA segment from the 202 gene (including its 5' flanking region and its 5'-terminal exon) was ligated to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene, and the resulting construct was transfected into mouse Ltk- cells. Treatment of these cells with beta-interferon increased the expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene 5-10-fold. Within the first, untranslated exon of the 202 gene, we found a 29-nucleotide long sequence that is partially homologous to sequences which occur upstream from interferon-inducible human HLA and metallothionein IIA genes (Friedman, R. L., and Stark, G. R. (1985) Nature 314, 637-639).

Acetyltransferases↗

Mechanism of interferon-gamma action. Characterization of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in cultured human cells induced by interferon-gamma and evaluation of the enzyme-mediated tryptophan degradation in its anticellular activity.

Induction by interferon-gamma of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (a tryptophan degradation enzyme) was examined with 11 human cell lines. The enzyme induction was demonstrated in 7 of the 11 cell lines. The induced enzyme in each of the 7 cell lines was identical to the enzyme purified from human placenta, as evidenced by immunoblot analysis with a monoclonal antibody specific to the placental one. The extent of the induction varied largely with the cell line; a relatively high induction was observed with HEL (lung fibroblasts), NY (osteosarcoma), and A-431 (epidermoid carcinoma). The enzyme induction was dependent on the concentration of interferon-gamma and occurred 12-18 h after addition of interferon-gamma to the cultures. Interferon-alpha or -beta was completely ineffective in this induction. Interferon-gamma inhibited the growth of the 7 cell lines observed with the enzyme induction, and this growth inhibition was accompanied with a complete deletion of tryptophan (less than 1 microM) in the culture medium by the induction of the enzyme. For two of these cell lines, the inhibition was partially reversed by an addition of exogenous tryptophan to the medium not to be depleted. These findings indicated that the growth inhibition by interferon-gamma was in part explained by the tryptophan depletion in the medium caused by the enzyme induction.

Ascorbic Acid↗

[Antiproliferative action of swine leukocyte interferon and of an inhibitor of interferon action].

The results of the study of the antiproliferative effect of swine leukocyte interferon and of an inhibitor of interferon effect in experimental mice with transplanted Krebs-2 ascitic carcinoma cells are presented. The interferon inhibitor exerted antiproliferative effect similar to that of native swine interferon. Combined use of swine interferon and interferon inhibitor did not lead to summation of the antiproliferative effect of these preparations.

Animals↗

Interferon activity produced by interferon messenger RNA in Tilapiamosaiabica peters oocytes.

The activities of interferon mRNA from various types of mouse cells have been studied using Tilapiamosaiabica peters oocytes (TPO) as the translation system. The translation activity of interferon mRNA in TPO was also compared with that in Xenopus laevis oocytes (XLO). The results obtained showed similar translation efficiency in both systems. The highest translation efficiency was observed when T. peters oocytes, microinjected with mRNA, were cultivated in Eagle's medium containing 0.01% HEPES and 0.5% NaHCO3 (pH 7.5) at 25 degrees C. pppA2' P5' A2' P5' A in concentration of 500 nM did not affect the translation of interferon mRNA in oocytes, but inhibition was demonstrated at 1 microM. A linear relationship was found between the amount of interferon mRNA injected and the antiviral activity of the translation products, suggesting that the amount of interferon mRNA can be determined by assaying the interferon activity of its translation product.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Preclinical and clinical studies of interferons and interferon inducers in breast cancer.

Preclinical and clinical studies suggest interferons and interferon inducers have antitumor activity for breast carcinoma. Observations include inhibition of growth of freshly derived and continuously passaged breast carcinoma cells in vitro, decreased tumor size and increased survival in spontaneous mouse mammary carcinoma, inhibition of growth of xenogeneic human breast carcinomas grown in nude mice, and reduction of measurable tumors in women. Since clinical doses and schedules have to date been largely empirically derived, additional studies will be required to define optimal clinical use. Furthermore, not all interferon types or subtypes may prove clinically effective. Therefore, use of interferons or interferon inducers in patients should remain restricted to controlled trials with well-defined research objectives.

Adult↗

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with consensus interferon: a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. Consensus Interferon Study Group.

This multicenter, randomized, controlled, double-blind, phase III study in 704 patients with chronic hepatitis C infection compared treatment with consensus interferon (CIFN), a non-natural recombinant type-1 interferon, with a standard regimen of recombinant interferon alfa-2b (IFN-alpha2b). Patients were randomized to receive CIFN at doses of 3 microg or 9 microg, or 15 microg IFN-alpha2b (3 million units), subcutaneously three times weekly for 24 weeks, followed by 24 weeks of observation. Efficacy was assessed by normalization of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) concentration and decrease in serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA concentration below the limit of detection by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (100 copies/mL). The beneficial effect of CIFN was greater with the 9-microg dose than the 3-microg dose. The sustained ALT and HCV RNA response rates were 20.3% and 12.1%, respectively, in the 9-microg CIFN cohort and 19.6% and 11.3%, respectively, in the 15-microg IFN-alpha2b cohort. However, patients receiving 9 microg of CIFN had a greater reduction in serum HCV RNA concentrations compared with patients receiving 15 microg IFN-alpha2b over the course of treatment (P < .01). Similarly, analysis of patients infected with HCV genotype 1 showed a greater reduction in serum HCV RNA concentration over the course of treatment for the 9-microg CIFN group when compared with the 15-microg IFN-alpha2b group (P < .01). In addition, a greater percentage of patients infected with HCV genotype 1 treated with 9 microg CIFN had undetectable HCV RNA concentrations when compared with patients in the 15-microg IFN-alpha2b cohort at the end of treatment (24% vs. 15%; P = .04). Improvements in liver histology were noted in all three treatment groups; 52% to 55% of the patients in the three cohorts had at least a 2-unit improvement in the Knodell score at the end of the posttreatment period. The adverse-events profiles were characteristic of treatment with type-1 interferon, and the incidences of anti-interferon antibody formation did not significantly differ among the three treatment groups. These results show that administration of 9 microg CIFN three times weekly for 6 months is safe and is effective in reducing serum HCV RNA concentration.

Adult↗

Interferon regulatory factors: growth control and histone gene regulation--it's not just interferon anymore.

Interferon-regulatory factors (IRFs) are a related family of proteins originally identified by their ability to bind a DNA sequence found in the beta-interferon gene and many interferon-stimulated genes. Two well-studied members of this family, IRF-1 and IRF-2, have antagonistic roles in interferon-beta gene regulation: IRF-1 activates this gene, and IRF-2 represses the activation by IRF-1, IRF-1 and IRF-2 have more recently been linked to growth control by displaying tumor suppressor and oncogenic activities, respectively. A possible explanation for the oncogenic activity of IRF-2 is the discovery that IRF-2 can activate a histone gene that is functionally coupled to cell cycle progression. This first report of native IRF-2 playing the role of activator of a gene essential for growth may lead to the discovery of a more general involvement of interferon regulatory factors in mediating growth control.

Animals↗

Potentiation of interferon action by mixtures of recombinant DNA-derived human interferons.

Natural and essentially pure recombinant DNA-derived HuIFN-alpha and HuIFN-gamma were examined for their relative abilities to potentiate interferon action. Potentiation of human interferon's antiviral and antiproliferative activities were studied. The essentially pure recombinant DNA-derived human interferons were found to be as effective in their potentiating interactions as their natural counterparts. The results demonstrate that it is the human interferons themselves which interact to potentiate human interferon's varied activities.

Antiviral Agents↗

A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial of interferon alfacon-1 compared with alpha-2a-interferon in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Alpha-interferons are the accepted therapy for patients infected with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in China. However, consensus interferon (CIFN) for HCV treatment is effective in patients with chronic hepatitis C from Western countries. METHODS: This randomized, controlled trial was conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of CIFN at two doses, and to compare it with alpha-2a-interferon (IFN-alpha-2a) in Chinese patients with chronic HCV. Interferon-naive patients with chronic HCV infection (n = 187) were randomly chosen to receive 15 microg CIFN or 9 microg or 3 MU IFN-alpha-2a subcutaneously, three times a week for 24 weeks, followed by a 24 week observation period. Efficacy was evaluated by the normalization of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and the non-detectability disappearance of serum HCV-RNA by using reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The safety of CIFN was evaluated by recording the type and severity of adverse effects. RESULTS: The combined ALT and HCV-RNA end-of-treatment and sustained responses were observed to be greater for treatment with 15 microg CIFN (59.0% and 55.7%, respectively) compared to IFN alpha-2a (36.1% and 39.3%, respectively; P = 0.01 for the end-of-treatment, P = 0.07 for the sustained response). The combined ALT and HCV-RNA end-of-treatment and sustained responses for treatment with 9 microg CIFN (both 49.2%) were higher than those for IFN-alpha-2a (not statistically significant). Data were analyzed by using a logistic-multiple-variate regression model, which indicated that the higher IFN dose (15 microg or 9 microg CIFN vs 3 MU IFN-alpha-2a; P < 0.01) appeared to be associated with a better sustained response. The type, frequency and severity of adverse effects were comparable across treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Consensus interferon appears to be safe and effective at concentrations of 9 and 15 microg, but 15 microg CIFN may be more effective than 3 MU IFN-alpha-2a, without increased toxicity.

Adolescent↗

Molecular cloning of LSIRF, a lymphoid-specific member of the interferon regulatory factor family that binds the interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE).

Interferon regulatory factor (IRF) genes encode a family of DNA-binding proteins that are involved in the transcriptional regulation of type-I interferon and/or interferon-inducible genes. We report here the characterization of LSIRF, a new member of the IRF gene family cloned from mouse spleen by the polymerase chain reaction using degenerate primers. LSIRF was found to encode a 51 kDa protein that shares a high degree of amino acid sequence homology in the DNA-binding domain with other IRF family members. LSIRF expression was detectable only in lymphoid cells. In contrast to other IRF genes, LSIRF expression was not induced by interferons, but rather by antigen-receptor mediated stimuli such as plant lectins, CD3 or IgM crosslinking. In in vitro DNA binding studies, LSIRF was able to bind to the interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE) of the MHC class I promoter. The expression pattern and DNA binding activities suggest that LSIRF plays a role in ISRE-targeted signal transduction mechanisms specific to lymphoid cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Consensus interferon for chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1 who failed to respond to, or relapsed after, interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin in combination: an Italian pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of consensus interferon in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1 who failed to respond to, or relapsed after, combination therapy with interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin. DESIGN: Open label pilot study. METHODS: Twenty-four chronic hepatitis C outpatient non-responders to (12 cases), or relapsers after (12 cases), standard combination therapy were treated with consensus interferon (9 microg five times per week) for 36 weeks. The patients were followed up for a further 24 weeks. The primary end-point of the study was the rate of sustained virological response. RESULTS: Sustained virological response was observed in 33% of previous non-responders and in 42% of previous relapsers. Improvement of the histological score was documented in 80% of previous non-responders and in all previous relapsers who showed undetectable levels of hepatitis C virus RNA at the end of treatment. Logistic regression analysis showed that sustained virological response was associated with a hepatitis C viral load of 2 x 106 copies/ml or less, with an inflammation score of 7 or less and with an estimated duration of disease of 10 years or less. The treatment was well tolerated with an 83% compliance. CONCLUSIONS: Consensus interferon given at a dose of 9 microg five times per week for 36 weeks may offer a good chance of sustained virological response in a subset of patients who failed to respond to, or relapsed after, standard combination therapy. However, a larger randomized trial is required to assess the efficacy of consensus interferon before its use can be advocated for the treatment of such patients.

Adult↗

Cost-effectiveness of interferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1b, and glatiramer acetate in newly diagnosed non-primary progressive multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of three immunomodulatory treatments for newly diagnosed nonprimary progressive MS: interferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1b, and glatiramer acetate. METHODS: We developed a state-transition model to estimate the health effects and costs associated with interferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1b, glatiramer acetate, and no treatment for hypothetical cohorts of men and women with non-primary progressive MS. We used the Expanded Disability Status Scale as the measure of disability and included both relapses and disease progression in the model. We evaluated treatment strategies assuming a 10-year treatment duration using the societal perspective. We elicited preferences for disability and treatment states using standard-gamble questions and modeled the disutility associated with treatment administration and side effects explicitly. Main outcome measures were net gains in quality-adjusted life expectancy and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios in dollars per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. RESULTS: For treatment duration of 10 years for newly diagnosed non-primary progressive MS, interferon beta-1a yielded the largest gain in quality-adjusted life expectancy with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $2,200,000/QALY for women and $1,800,000/QALY for men, compared with no treatment. For a 5-year treatment duration, a "no treatment" strategy yielded more quality-adjusted life years than any of the treatment strategies. Cost-effectiveness ratios were similar for all three immunomodulatory treatments evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: Cost-effectiveness results for all three immunomodulatory treatments for MS were unfavorable in the simulated study population under a wide range of assumptions. For treatment duration less than or equal to 5 years, expected benefits of treatment may not outweigh disutility associated with side effects and treatment discomfort.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Type I interferons and the quality of life of multiple sclerosis patients. Results from a clinical trial on interferon alfa-2a.

The objective of the study was to examine whether the beneficial effect of treatment of interferon alfa-2a on multiple sclerosis seen by magnetic resonance imaging is reflected in a corresponding improvement in the quality of life (QoL) and to address the impact of adverse events related to this treatment on the QoL. The study was a randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled treatment trial including 97 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients. Thirty-two patients received 4.5 MIU recombinant interferon alfa-2a, 32 patients received 9.0 MIU recombinant interferon alfa-2a and 33 patients received placebo treatment for 6 months. All patients were followed up 6 months after end of treatment. QoL was assessed according to the eight scales of the SF-36 Health Survey and measured at baseline, month 3, 6 and 12. The effect found on MRI was not reflected in a corresponding change in the QoL. We found a relationship between the presence of new enhancing lesions and reduced QoL among the placebo patients, whereas this was not found among the patients treated with interferon. The presence of the adverse events fatigue, myalgia, headache and weakness were significantly negatively correlated to several of the QoL dimensions. Conclusively, the treatment with interferon alfa-2a does not seem to improve the patients' QoL after 6 months of treatment, in spite of a marked effect measured by MRI. The treatment is followed by adverse events that negatively affected the QoL.

Adult↗

Genotype does not affect pattern of HCV RNA decrease among responders during interferon treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Consensus Interferon Study Group.

We assessed differences in the pattern of HCV RNA decrease for HCV genotypes 1, 2, and 3 during interferon treatment to determine if the lower response rates observed among genotype 1 patients were related to a slower decrease in HCV clearance. Serum HCV RNA values of 472 chronic hepatitis C patients treated with either consensus interferon (CIFN) or interferon alfa-2b (IFN alfa-2b) were evaluated. Neither virological sustained responders nor relapsers differed in the pattern of serum HCV RNA decrease based on genotype. Virological sustained responders infected with genotype 1 cleared HCV RNA as rapidly as sustained responders who were infected with genotype 2 or 3. Relapsers had a slower rate of serum HCV RNA decrease than did virological sustained responders. Nonresponders differed in the pattern of serum HCV RNA decrease based on genotype: HCV genotype 3 patients had the greatest decrease in serum HCV RNA; genotype 2 patients had an intermediate decrease; and genotype 1 patients had the least serum HCV RNA decrease. HCV genotype 1 patients treated with CIFN had a greater decrease in serum HCV RNA during therapy than did patients treated with IFN alfa-2b. However, there was no difference in the magnitude of serum HCV RNA decrease between the two interferon treatments for patients infected with genotype 2 or 3. In summary, both genotype and ultimate response to treatment are determinants of the pattern and rate of serum HCV RNA change during interferon therapy of chronic hepatitis C.

Antiviral Agents↗

[Activation of the interferon system enzymes by recombinant alpha2-interferon in patients with chronic hepatitis B].

Treatment of patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B with recombinant leukocytic interferon (reaferon) increased the levels of circulating interferon and activated interferon-dependent enzymes such as 2-5A-synthetase and histone kinase. Activation of the enzymes was observed for 1 to 2 weeks. After that period it was maintained at the required levels with intramuscular administration of 1-3 million units of reaferon 2 or 3 times a week. In parallel with increasing of the levels of the interferon system enzymes there was observed a decrease in the level of aminotransferase. The reaction of the viral antigens to the treatment with reaferon was not the same: HBe antigen and antibodies to HBe antigen disappeared, the content of HBs antigen and antibodies to delta-interferon did not change.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗