Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Recombination”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 577 records · Page 32Linked to original sources

[Genetic control of recombination processes in Aspergillus nidulans. IV. The effect of uvs mutations on the frequency of spontaneous and nitrosomethylurea-induced intragenic mitotic recombination].

Effects of three uvs mutations were studied on spontaneous and nitrosomethyl-induced intragenic mitotic segregation in the methA region of the chromosome II in Aspergillus diploids homozygous for uvs and heteroallelic for methA mutation. The reversion frequencies of methA alleles in parent haploid strains were also determined. All the mutations increased the frequency of spontaneous and decreased that of induced intragenic mitotic recombination. The frequency of spontaneous reversions was decreased in uvs haploids. The interaction between repair, recombination and mutagenesis processes in Aspergillus nidulans is discussed.

Alleles↗

In vivo synergy between recombinant human stem cell factor and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in baboons enhanced circulation of progenitor cells.

Recombinant human stem cell factor (rhSCF) and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) are synergistic in vitro in stimulating the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells and their precursors. We examined the in vivo synergy of rhSCF with rhG-CSF for stimulating hematopoiesis in vivo in baboons. Administration of low-dose (LD) rhSCF (25 micrograms/kg) alone did not stimulate changes in circulating WBCs. In comparison, administration of LD rhSCF in combination with rhG-CSF at 10 micrograms/kg or 100 micrograms/kg stimulated increases in circulating WBCs of multiple types up to twofold higher than was stimulated by administration of the same dose of rhG-CSF alone. When the dose of rhG-CSF is increased to 250 micrograms/kg, the administration of LD rhSCF does not further increase the circulating WBC counts. Administration of LD rhSCF in combination with rhG-CSF also stimulated increased circulation of hematopoietic progenitors. LD rhSCF alone stimulated less of an increase in circulating progenitors, per milliliter of blood, than did administration of rhG-CSF alone at 100 micrograms/kg. Baboons administered LD rhSCF together with rhG-CSF at 10, 100, or 250 micrograms/kg had 3.5- to 16-fold higher numbers per milliliter of blood of progenitors cells of multiple types, including colony-forming units granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM), burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E), and colony-forming and burst-forming units-megakaryocyte (CFU-MK and BFU-MK) compared with animals given the same dose of rhG-CSF without rhSCF, regardless of the rhG-CSF dose. The increased circulation of progenitor cells stimulated by the combination of rhSCF plus rhG-CSF was not necessarily directly related to the increase in WBCs, as this effect on peripheral blood progenitors was observed even at an rhG-CSF dose of 250 micrograms/kg, where coadministration of LD rhSCF did not further increase WBC counts. Administration of very-low-dose rhSCF (2.5 micrograms/kg) with rhG-CSF, 10 micrograms/kg, did not stimulate increases in circulating WBCs, but did increase the number of megakaryocyte progenitor cells in blood compared with rhG-CSF alone. LD rhSCF administered alone for 7 days before rhG-CSF did not result in increased levels of circulating WBCs or progenitors compared with rhG-CSF alone. Thus, the synergistic effects of rhSCF with rhG-CSF were both dose- and time-dependent. The doses of rhSCF used in these studies have been tolerated in vivo in humans.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

In vitro and in vivo effects of recombinant human erythropoietin plus recombinant human G-CSF on human haemopoietic progenitor cells.

We tested in vitro the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) plus recombinant human G-CSF (rhG-CSF) on purified human CD34+ haemopoietic progenitors (HP) and in vivo in patients who had undergone anti-cancer chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer. In this preliminary experience we found that, in vitro, rhEPO potentiates the effect of rhG-CSF on HP growth and differentiation toward the granulocyte-macrophage lineage. rhEPO plus rhG-CSF produced in vitro a proliferative stimulus of HP which represents 26% of the maximum stimulation obtained using IL-1, IL-3, IL-6, G-CSF, GM-CSF and stem cell factor in combination. In the patients treated with rhEPO plus rhG-CSF after chemotherapy, we observed a favourable trend for platelet and neutrophil recoveries compared with a control group treated with rhG-CSF alone and a significantly higher haematocrit nadir was observed in the rhEPO plus rhG-CSF series. In the patients treated with rhEPO plus rhG-CSF we observed a significant increase of circulating colony-forming unit granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and burst forming unit-erythroid (BFU-e) compared with the rhG-CSF series. Our results, in vitro and in vivo, encourage the in vivo use of rhEPO plus rhG-CSF to improve blood cell recoveries of patients who have undergone conventional or high-dose chemotherapy. Moreover, rhEPO plus rhG-CSF was demonstrated to be a good HP mobilising treatment for blood stem cell collection after chemotherapy.

Adult↗

Rapid engraftment by peripheral blood progenitor cells mobilized by recombinant human stem cell factor and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in nonhuman primates.

We have previously shown that administration of low-dose recombinant human stem cell factor (rhSCF) plus recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) to baboons mobilizes greater numbers of progenitor cells in the blood than does administration of rhG-CSF alone. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether marrow repopulating cells are present in the blood of nonhuman primates administered low-dose rhSCF plus rhG-CSF, and if present, whether these cells engraft lethally irradiated recipients as rapidly as blood cells mobilized by treatment with rhG-CSF alone. One group of baboons was administered low-dose rhSCF (25 micrograms/kg/d) plus rhG-CSF (100 micrograms/kg/d) while a second group received rhG-CSF alone (100 micrograms/kg/d). Each animal underwent a single 2-hour leukapheresis occurring the day when the number of progenitor cells per volume of blood was maximal. For baboons administered low-dose rhSCF plus rhG-CSF, the leukapheresis products contained 1.8-fold more mononuclear cells and 14.0-fold more progenitor cells compared to the leukapheresis products from animals treated with rhG-CSF alone. All animals successfully engrafted after transplantation of cryopreserved autologous blood cells. In animals transplanted with low-dose rhSCF plus rhG-CSF mobilized blood cells, we observed a time to a platelet count of > 20,000 was 8 days +/- 0, to a white blood cell count (WBC) of > 1,000 was 11 +/- 1 days, and to an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of > 500 was 12 +/- 1 days. These results compared with 42 +/- 12, 16 +/- 1, and 24 +/- 4 days to achieve platelets > 20,000, WBC > 1,000, and ANC > 500, respectively, for baboons transplanted with rhG-CSF mobilized blood cells. Animals transplanted with low-dose rhSCF plus rhG-CSF mobilized blood cells had blood counts equivalent to pretransplant values within 3 weeks after transplant. The results suggest that the combination of low-dose rhSCF plus rhG-CSF mobilizes greater numbers of progenitor cells that can be collected by leukapheresis than does rhG-CSF alone, that blood cells mobilized by low-dose rhSCF plus rhG-CSF contain marrow repopulating cells, and finally that using a single 2-hour leukapheresis to collect cells, the blood cells mobilized by low-dose rhSCF plus rhG-CSF engraft lethally irradiated recipients more rapidly than do blood cells mobilized by rhG-CSF alone.

Animals↗

Applications of recombinant DNA technology in the production of glycosylated recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor.

Lenograstim has been developed by recombinant DNA technology and is expressed in large-scale mammalian cell culture. It has been shown that lenograstim is indistinguishable in its physicochemical, structural and biological properties with respect to native granulocyte colony stimulating factor isolated from a human cell line. In particular, both the recombinant and natural proteins have identical amino acid sequences, contain the same intra-polypeptide chain disulphide bridges and exhibit the same posttranslational carbohydrate structures. Lenograstim is manufactured by expanding inoculum from vials of the Manufacturer's Working Cell Bank (from molecular cloning) followed by culture in a large bioreactor. Purification of lenograstim involves a four-step chromatographic process. The active ingredient is monitored by in-process controls at all stages of manufacture and routinely as purified bulk. The finished product is formulated into excipients reflecting conditions close to the natural environment of the protein with respect to pH, osmolarity and the presence of human serum albumin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Peripheral blood progenitor cells mobilized by recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor plus recombinant rat stem cell factor contain long-term engrafting cells capable of cellular proliferation for more than two years as shown by serial transplantation in mice.

Mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) have been shown to provide rapid engraftment in patients given high-dose chemotherapy. PBPC contain cells with long-term engraftment potential as shown in animal models. In this study we have further analyzed mobilized PBPC for their ability to support serial transplantation of irradiated mice. Transplantation of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) plus recombinant rat stem cell factor (rrSCF) mobilized PBPC resulted in 98% donor engraftment of primary recipients at 12 to 14 months post-transplantation. Bone marrow (BM) cells from these primary recipients were harvested and transplanted into secondary recipients. At 6 months posttransplantation, all surviving secondary recipients had donor engraftment. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed greater than 90% male cells in spleens, thymuses, and lymph nodes. Myeloid colonies from BM cells of secondary recipients demonstrated granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming cells (GM-CFC) of male origin in all animals. In comparison, transplantation of rhG-CSF mobilized PBPC resulted in decreased male engraftment in secondary recipients. BM cells from secondary recipients, who originally received PBPC mobilized by the combination of rrSCF and rhG-CSF, were further passaged to tertiary female recipients. At 6 months posttransplantation, 90% of animals had male-derived hematopoiesis by whole-blood PCR analysis. These data showed that PBPC mobilized with rhG-CSF plus rrSCF contained cells that are transplantable and able to maintain hematopoiesis for more than 26 months, suggesting that the mobilized long-term reconstituting stem cells (LTRC) have extensive proliferative potential and resemble those that reside in the BM. In addition, the data demonstrated increased mobilization of LTRC with rhG-CSF plus rrSCF compared to rhG-CSF alone.

Animals↗

Effects of recombinant canine stem cell factor, a c-kit ligand, and recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on hematopoietic recovery after otherwise lethal total body irradiation.

The effects of recombinant canine stem cell factor (rcSCF) on hematopoiesis were studied in normal dogs and in dogs given otherwise lethal total body irradiation (TBI) without marrow transplant. Results were compared with previous and concurrent data with recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rG-CSF). Four normal dogs received 200 micrograms rcSCF per kilogram body weight daily either by continuous intravenous infusion for 28 days (n = 2) or by subcutaneous (SC) injection in two divided doses for 20 days (n = 2). All dogs showed at least a twofold increase in peripheral blood neutrophil counts starting approximately 7 days after the initiation of treatment. Hematocrit level and monocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil, reticulocyte, and platelet counts were not elevated. Marrow sections after rcSCF treatment showed panhyperplasia. The only toxicity was facial edema during the first few days of rcSCF administration, presumably caused by mast cell stimulation. Ten dogs were given 400 cGy TBI at 10 cGy/min from two opposing 60Co sources. They were given no marrow infusion and received 200 micrograms/kg/d rcSCF SC in two divided doses for 21 days starting within 2 hours of TBI. Five of the 10 dogs showed complete and sustained hematopoietic recovery and survived as compared with 1 of 28 control dogs not receiving growth factor (P < .005). RcSCF treatment allowed for hematopoietic recovery in two of seven dogs administered 500 cGy of TBI but in none of five dogs given 600 cGy of TBI. Results with rcSCF are similar to those obtained with rG-CSF. The rate of neutrophil recovery in rcSCF-treated dogs after 400 cGy TBI was not different from that of rG-CSF-treated dogs (P = .65), but the rate of platelet recovery was faster (P = .06) in the rcSCF-treated animals. Combined treatment with rcSCF and rcG-CSF after 500 cGy TBI did not result in strongly improved survival as compared with results obtained with either factor alone.

Animals↗

Recombinant rat stem cell factor synergizes with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in vivo in mice to mobilize peripheral blood progenitor cells that have enhanced repopulating potential.

Splenectomized mice treated for 7 days with pegylated recombinant rat stem cell factor (rrSCF-PEG) showed a dose-dependent increase in peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) that have enhanced in vivo repopulating potential. A dose of rrSCF-PEG at 25 micrograms/kg/d for 7 days produced no significant increase in PBPC. However, when this dose of rrSCF-PEG was combined with an optimal dose of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF; 200 micrograms/kg/d), a synergistic increase in PBPC was observed. Compared with treatment with rhG-CSF alone, the combination of rrSCF-PEG plus rhG-CSF resulted in a synergistic increase in peripheral white blood cells, in the incidence and absolute numbers of PBPC, and in the incidence and absolute numbers of circulating cells with in vivo repopulating potential. These data suggest that low doses of SCF, which would have minimal, if any, effects in vivo, can synergize with optimal doses of rhG-CSF to enhance the mobilization of PBPC stimulated by rhG-CSF alone.

Animals↗

Pilot study comparing recombinant erythropoietin alone with erythropoietin plus recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor for treatment of the anemia of prematurity.

Sixteen infants with the anemia of prematurity were randomly assigned to treatment with packed erythrocyte transfusions, recombinant erythropoietin alone, or epo plus recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). During the treatment period, blood reticulocyte concentrations remained unchanged in those randomly assigned to receive transfusions, but increased significantly in those who received erythropoietin, either alone or in combination with GM-CSF. The magnitude of increase in hematocrit was not greater in those who received erythropoietin plus GM-CSF than in those who received erythropoietin alone. Blood neutrophil concentrations fell in all four infants who received erythropoietin alone, but increased in all who received erythropoietin plus GM-CSF.

Anemia, Neonatal↗

[Combination therapy with recombinant interferon alpha-21 (rIFN alpha 2a) and recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2) in metastatic renal cell cancer].

Sixteen patients with histologically-proven metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were treated after nephrectomy with a daily continuous 24-hour i.v. infusion of recombinant human interleukin-2 (rIL-2) at a dosage of 18 x 10(6) IU/m2 daily for 5 days per week and of recombinant interferon alpha-2a (rIFN-alpha 2a) 5 x 10(6) IU/m2 subcutaneously on days 2 and 4. The treatment cycles were repeated at 3-weekly intervals. Altogether 38 treatment cycles were given, but only 14/16 patients were evaluable for response rates. The main toxic side effects were fever, nausea, chills, anorexia, hypotension and hepatotoxic syndrome (Toxicity grades I-III, WHO). There were 3 objective responses among the 14 evaluable patients (21%); 2 patients have remained in complete remission for 12 and 8 months, respectively until now whilst 1 has shown a partial response for 21 months.

Adult↗

Quantitative and cell-cycle differences in progenitor cells mobilized by recombinant human interleukin-7 and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

Administration of recombinant human interleukin-7 (rhIL-7) to mice increases the exportation of myeloid progenitors (colony-forming unit [CFU]-c and CFU-granulocyte erythroid megakaryocyte macrophage [CFU-GEMM]) from the bone marrow (BM) to peripheral organs, including blood, and also increases the number of primitive progenitor and stem cells in the peripheral blood (PB). We now report that combined treatment of mice with rhIL-7 and recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) stimulates a twofold to 10-fold increase in the total number of PB CFU-c, and a twofold to fivefold increase in the total number of PB CFU-spleen at day 8 (CFU-S8) over the increase stimulated by rhIL-7 or rhG-CSF alone. In addition, the quality of mobilized cells with trilineage, long-term marrow-repopulating activity is maintained or increased in mice treated with rhIL-7 and rhG-CSF compared with rhIL-7 or rhG-CSF alone. These differences in mobilizing efficiency suggest qualitative differences in the mechanisms by which rhIL-7 and rhG-CSF mobilize progenitor cells, in fact, the functional status of progenitor cells mobilized by rhIL-7 differs from that of cells mobilized by rhG-CSF in that the incidence of actively cycling (S-phase) progenitors obtained from the PB is about 20-fold higher for rhIL-7-treated mice than for mice treated with rhG-CSF. These results suggest the use of rhIL-7-mobilized progenitor/stem cells for gene-modification and tracking studies, and highlight different functions and rates of repopulation after reconstitution with PB leukocytes obtained from mice treated with rhIL-7 versus rhG-CSF.

Animals↗

Augmented procoagulant activity in cancer patients, treated with recombinant interferon-gamma in addition to recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha and melphalan.

Several investigators have reported that interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) can alter tumor necrosis factor alpha induced effects in vitro. We assessed in vivo effects of recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN gamma) on recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rTNF alpha) induced activation of systemic blood coagulation in a non-randomized study in 20 consecutive cancer patients. Eight patients were treated with rIFN gamma prior to and during hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with rTNF alpha and melphalan (IFN gamma group). They were compared with twelve patients who did not additionally receive rIFN gamma (non-IFN gamma group). Before start of perfusion, higher levels of TNF alpha, F1+2 and TAT levels were found in the IFN gamma group. Fibrinogen and ATIII levels tended to be lower in this group. High TNF alpha levels, due to leakage during perfusion, were associated with activation of coagulation in all patients, that became obvious after the end of perfusion, when heparin treatment had been antagonized. Activation, measured by increased F1+2 and TAT levels, was significantly stronger in the IFN gamma group. Monocytic TF remained low, possibly due to shedding of TF positive vesicles and/or sequestration of TF positive activated monocytes against the vessel wall. In both groups F1+2 and TAT levels declined 24 h after the perfusion, whereas monocytic TF increased to levels that were higher in the IFN gamma group. In conclusion, our data confirm a strong activation of coagulation induced by rTNF alpha in cancer patients. They suggest that rIFN gamma may lead to a slight activation of coagulation and augments TNF alpha induced procoagulant activity. These effects may be due to rIFN gamma induced sustained monocytic TF activity.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Prevention of thrombocytopenia and neutropenia in a nonhuman primate model of marrow suppressive chemotherapy by combining pegylated recombinant human megakaryocyte growth and development factor and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

This report examines the effects on hematopoietic regeneration of pegylated recombinant human megakaryocyte growth and development factor (PEG-rHuMGDF) (2.5 micrograms/ kg/d) alone and in combination with recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rHu-GCSF) (10 micrograms/ kg/d) for 21 days in rhesus macaques receiving intense marrow suppression produced by single bolus injections of hepsulfam (1.5 g/m2). In six hepsulfam-only control animals thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 100 x 10(9)/L) was observed between days 12 and 25 (nadir 39 +/- 20 x 10(9)/L on day 17), and neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count < 1 x 10(9)/L) occurred between days 8 and 30 (nadir 0.167 +/- 0.120 x 10(9)/L on day 15). PEG-rHuMGDF (2.5 micrograms/kg/d) injected subcutaneously into four animals from day 1 to day 22 following hepsulfam administration produced trough serum concentrations of 1.9 +/- 0.2 ng/mL and increased the platelet count twofold over basal prechemotherapy levels (856 +/- 594 x 10(9)/L v baseline of 416 +/- 88 x 10(9)/L; P = .01). PEG-rHuMGDF alone also shortened the period of posthepsulfam neutropenia from 22 days to 12 days (P = .01), although the neutropenic nadir was not significantly altered (neutrophil count 0.224 +/- 0.112 x 10(9)/L v 0.167 +/- 0.120 x 10(9)/L; P > .3). rHu-GCSF (10 micrograms/kg/d) injected subcutaneously into four animals from day 1 to day 22 following hepsulfam administration produced trough serum concentrations of 1.4 +/- 1.1 ng/mL, and reduced the time for the postchemotherapy neutrophil count to attain 1 x 10(9)/L from 22 days to 4 days (P = .005). The postchemotherapy neutropenic nadir was 0.554 +/- 0.490 x 10(9)neutrophils/L (P = .3 v hepsulfam-only control of 0.167 +/- 0.120 x 10(9)/L). However, thrombocytopenia of < 100 x 10(9) platelets/L was not shortened (persisted from day 12 to day 25), or less severe (nadir of 56 +/- 32 x 10(9) platelets/L on day 14; P = .7 compared with untreated hepsulfam animals). The concurrent administration of rHu-GCSF (10 micrograms/kg/d) and PEG-rHuMGDF (2.5 micrograms/kg/d) in four animals resulted in postchemotherapy peripheral platelet counts of 127 +/- 85 x 10(9)/L (P = .03 compared with 39 +/- 20 x 10(9)/L for untreated hepsulfam alone, and P = .02 compared with 856 +/- 594 x 10(9)/L for PEG-rHuMGDF alone), and shortened the period of neutropenia < 1 x 10(9)/L from 22 days to 4 days (P = .8 compared with rHu-GCSF alone). Increasing PEG-rHuMGDF to 10 micrograms/kg/d and maintaining the 21-day schedule of coadministration with rHu-GCSF (10 micrograms/kg/d) in another four animals produced postchemotherapy platelet counts of 509 +/- 459 x 10(9)/L (P < 10(-4) compared with untreated hepsulfam alone, and P = .04 compared with 2.5 micrograms/kg/d PEG-rHuMGDF alone), and 4 days of neutropenia. Coadministration of rHu-GCSF and PEG-rHuMGDF did not significantly alter the pharmacokinetics of either agent. The administration of PEG-rHuMGDF (2.5 micrograms/kg/d) from day 1 through day 22 and rHu-GCSF (10 micrograms/kg/d) from day 8 through day 22 in six animals produced peak postchemotherapy platelet counts of 747 +/- 317 x 10(9)/L(P < 10(-4) compared with untreated hepsulfam alone, and P = .7 compared with PEG-rHuMGDF alone), and maintained the neutrophil count > 3.5 x 10(9)/L (P = .008 v rHu-GCSF therapy alone). Thus, both thrombocytopenia and neutropenia are eliminated by initiating daily PEG-rHuMGDF therapy on day 1 and subsequently adding daily rHu-GCSF after 1 week in the rhesus model of hepsulfam marrow suppression. This improvement in platelet and neutrophil responses by delaying the addition of rHu-GCSF to PEG-rHuMGDF therapy demonstrates the importance of optimizing the dose and schedule of cytokine combinations after severe myelosuppressive chemotherap

Alkylating Agents↗

[Preparation of recombinant cytokines. II. Effective method for isolation, purification and renaturation of human recombinant gamma-interferon].

An efficient method for the isolation, purification, and renaturation of human recombinant gamma-interferon from biomass of transformed E. coli cells was developed. It involves the extraction of the protein from the inclusion bodies, preliminary purification of the protein, and three stages of ion-exchange chromatography with an intermediate renaturation between the second and the third stages. A highly active (2 x 10(7) U/mg) recombinant protein of up to 99% purity (according to SDS-PAGE and HPLC) was obtained with a 30% overall yield.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Systemic effects of pegylated recombinant human megakaryocyte growth and development factor in combination with recombinant murine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in a murine model of myelosuppression.

Megakaryocyte growth and development factor (MGDF) stimulates megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis in vivo. Previous studies indicate that administration of pegylated recombinant human (PEG-rHu) MGDF in combination with recombinant murine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rMuG-CSF) prevented lethality and reduced hematotoxicity in carboplatin-treated/irradiated mice, a disease-state animal model of radio-chemotherapy. In the current study we have further characterized the effects of PEG-rHuMGDF in combination with rMuG-CSF with respect to clinical chemistry, hematology variables, and histologic evaluations to determine whether any potential toxicological interaction exists both in normal and myelosuppressed mice. Myelosuppression and subsequent thrombocytopenia in mice was induced with a combination of a single intraperitoneal injection of 1.25 mg carboplatin followed 4 h later with sublethal gamma irradiation exposure of 500 rad. Both normal and carboplatin-treated/irradiated mice were administered daily subcutaneous injections of 50 micrograms/kg PEG-rHuMGDF alone and in combination with 10 micrograms/kg rMuG-CSF for 21 consecutive days. Administration of PEG-rHuMGDF alone or in combination with rMuG-CSF to carboplatin-treated/irradiated mice increased survival 70 and 100%, respectively, and accelerated platelet recovery. Microscopic examination of nonhematopoietic organs showed no evidence of any morphological changes in normal and carboplatin-treated/irradiated animals. In hematopoietic organs clinically significantly increased granulopoiesis and megakaryopoiesis, as well as extramedullary granulopoiesis within the mandibular and mesenteric lymph nodes, were present. The erythroid line was unaffected by cytokine treatment. In normal, non-carboplatin-treated/irradiated mice, platelet counts increased 6 and 12-fold above baseline in the groups administered PEG-rHuMGDF alone or in combination with rMuG-CSF, respectively. The results of this study provide a basis for coadministration of PEG-rHuMGDF with Filgrastim (rHuG-CSF) in the clinical treatment of myelosuppression induced by radiation and chemotherapy.

Animals↗

Eradication of mouse melanoma by combined treatment with recombinant human interleukin 2 and recombinant murine interferon-gamma.

Successful immunotherapy of early s.c. or i.p. (B16) melanoma in syngeneic C57BL/6 (B6) mice was achieved with s.c. peri-lesional injections (for s.c. tumors) or i.p. injections (for i.p. tumors) of recombinant human interleukin 2 (rIL-2) and recombinant murine interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma). Over a 28-day period, rIL-2 and rIFN-gamma were injected 14 times. Results with this combination were additive with s.c. tumors and synergistic with i.p. tumors. Treatment with 6,250 U-25,000 U of rIL-2 and 2 micrograms of rIFN-gamma began 1-3 days after s.c. inoculation of melanoma. On day 50, 87% (72/83) of mice thus treated were completely free of tumor. None of the 78 control mice (tumor + buffer) survived. Of mice receiving either rIL-2 or rIFN-gamma alone, 59% (47/79) and 53% (44/83), respectively, were tumor-free. I.p. tumors were also eradicated by i.p. injections of rIL-2 (50,000 U) with rIFN-gamma (5, 10, and 15 micrograms) as judged by absence of tumor in 81% (21/26) of mice autopsied between days 45 and 65. No control mice survived, and only 17% (2/12) and 20% (6/30) given either rIL-2 or rIFN-gamma separately (i.p.) were tumor-free. Doses of rIFN-gamma from 1-4 micrograms were more beneficial in eliminating 1-day s.c. melanomas than were higher doses, and local s.c. treatment was far superior to distant or systemic treatment. Non-adherent peritoneal or splenic cells from mice bearing 6-day-old i.p. melanomas and treated with one or both lymphokines on days 3 and 4 were used in cytotoxicity assays in vitro. Significant cytotoxicity against cultured melanoma cells was displayed by cells harvested from lymphokine-treated mice, but there was no evidence of the synergism observed with combination treatment of i.p. tumors in vivo. rIFN-gamma inhibited proliferation of melanoma cells in vitro, whereas rIL-2 stimulated proliferation at 1,000 U/ml. Plating efficiency was increased by at least 30% by culture with 100 U or 1,000 U of rIL-2/ml and both concentrations neutralized the inhibitory effect of 0.05 ng/ml of IFN-gamma, but not of 0.5 or 5.0 ng/ml.

Animals↗

Sequential therapy with recombinant interferons gamma and alpha in patients with unfavorable prognosis of chronic myelocytic leukemia: clinical responsiveness to recombinant IFN-alpha correlates with the degree of receptor down-regulation.

Natural and recombinant interferons (IFNs) have already demonstrated therapeutic efficacy, including cytogenetic remissions, in patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). We investigated at the level of ligand-receptor interaction the question whether heterogeneity of receptor number or affinity might contribute to primary or secondary treatment failures in CML. We therefore analyzed IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha receptor expression and regulation during treatment with recombinant IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha in 15 patients with advanced CML. We found no difference in number or affinity of constitutively expressed IFN-gamma receptors (mean 1,100) and, on average, a 30% reduction of IFN-alpha receptors (mean 750) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) of patients with chronic or accelerated CML as compared to mature granulocytes and/or bone marrow cells of healthy controls, which express on average 1,050 and 1,100 IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha receptors, respectively. While IFN-gamma receptor expression on PBMNC is not influenced upon treatment with rIFN-gamma, there is a substantial downregulation of IFN-alpha receptors in the course of rIFN-alpha therapy. Our data also show a differential pattern of receptor downregulation between patients achieving complete hematologic remission (CHR) (4 out of 12) compared with patients with partial hematologic remission (PHR) and non-responders. We conclude that differences in IFN receptor number cannot explain primary or secondary treatment failures. However, the differential ligand induced downregulation of IFN-alpha receptors in patients achieving CHR compared to those with PHR or non-responders suggest a prospective value of IFN-alpha receptor determination.

Adult↗

Mucosal immunization against hepatitis B virus by intranasal co-administration of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen and recombinant cholera toxin B subunit as an adjuvant.

Recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB) produced by Bacillus brevis carrying pNU212-CTB has been previously found to be a potent mucosal adjuvant to aluminium-non-adsorbed tetanus toxoid (nTT) and diphtheria toxoid (nDT) co-administered intranasally, and the possibility of needle-free inoculation of these vaccines with rCTB has been suggested. In this paper we examined the potentiality of rCTB as a mucosal adjuvant to aluminium-non-adsorbed yeast-derived recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (rHBs) being a particulate antigen when administered intranasally with rCTB. In-house ELISA showed that a mixture of rHBs (1 or 5 microg) and rCTB (10 microg) elevated not only systemic responses but also mucosal immune responses at the nasal cavity, the lung, the saliva, the small intestine and the vagina against rHBs, and these could be further increased with higher doses of antigen. With antibody isotypes of IgG, there were equally high levels of serum HBs-specific IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b antibodies and induction of mixed Th1- and Th2-type responses was considered to occur in combination of rHBs and rCTB. Serum anti-HBs titres in almost all mice obtained from sandwich EIA using a commercial kit were higher than 1000 milli-international units ml(-1) (mIU ml(-1)). These results show that rCTB is also very effective as a mucosal adjuvant for a particulate antigen like rHBs, as well as soluble antigens like nTT and nDT reported previously, suggesting the possibility of intranasal immunization with rHBs plus rCTB in humans.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗