Enhanced IFN (enhanced + ifn)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Enhanced IFN, production in adenosine-treated CHOCells: A mechanistic study

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 3 2009
William P. K. Chong
Abstract Adenosine causes growth arrest in recombinant mammalian cell cultures, which results in enhanced productivity of the recombinant protein. Adenosine is also known to increase intracellular ATP level when added to mammalian cells. As a cell's energy level affects its protein expression capacity, we investigated the factors that contribute to the increase in recombinant protein productivity. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing human interferon-gamma (IFN,) were treated with 1 mM adenosine on Day 2 of culture. The growth arrest resulted in 60% reduction in integral viable cell density when compared with control. However, IFN, titer improved 1.4-fold alongside a 2.5-fold increase in average specific productivity. The adenosine-treated cells also experienced a two-fold increase in ATP level that sustained for 3 days. Western blot studies revealed a relatively short-lived but strong activation of the energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in adenosine-treated cells. Activation of AMPK was probably due to adenosine being temporarily converted to AMP. Activated AMPK should have down-regulated protein translation by preventing mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) from phosphorylating and inactivating 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1), a key repressor of protein translation initiation. However, Western blots showed increased phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 on Day 2 that lasted 3 days. This implied that a high concentration of ATP could keep 4E-BP1 inhibited, probably by directly modulating mTOR. This corroborated with an earlier in vitro observation (Dennis et al., Science. 2001;294:1102-1105). Inhibition of translation initiation repression is thus likely to contribute in part to the improvement in IFN,-specific productivity and titer. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009 [source]


Interleukin-4 supports interleukin-12-induced proliferation and interferon-, secretion in human activated lymphoblasts and T helper type 1 cells

IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 1 2006
Martin A. Kriegel
Summary Interleukin-12 (IL-12) and IL-4 are known to differentially promote T helper (Th) cell differentiation. While IL-12 induces interferon-, (IFN-,) production and maturation of Th1 cells, IL-4 is thought to antagonize IL-12 and to favour Th2 development. Here we studied the combined action of various concentrations of common ,-chain (,c -chain) cytokines, including IL-4 and the Th1 cytokine IL-12, in human activated lymphoblasts and Th1 cells. IL-4 and IL-7 potentiated IL-12-induced proliferation at every concentration tested (1,10 ng/ml) without increasing rescue from apoptosis, indicating that proliferation was directly affected by these cytokine combinations. With regards to cytokine secretion, IL-2 together with IL-12 initiated tumour necrosis factor-, synthesis, enhanced IFN-, production, and shedding of soluble IL-2 receptor , as expected. Importantly, combining IL-4 with IL-12 also enhanced IFN-, secretion in lymphoblasts and a Th1 cell line. Investigating signal transduction in lymphoblasts induced by these cytokines, we found that not only IL-2 but also IL-4 enhances signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) tyrosine phosphorylation by IL-12. Tyrosine phosphorylations of janus kinase 2 (JAK-2), tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and STAT4, STAT5 and STAT6 were not potentiated by combinations of these cytokines, suggesting specificity for increased STAT3 phosphorylation. In conclusion, two otherwise antagonizing cytokines co-operate in activated human lymphoblasts and Th1 cells, possibly via STAT3 as a converging signal. These data demonstrate that IL-4 can directly enhance human Th1 cell function independently of its known actions on antigen-presenting cells. These findings should be of importance for the design of cytokine-targeted therapies of human Th-cell-driven diseases. [source]


ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effects of Cyclic Versus Sustained Estrogen Administration on Peripheral Immune Functions in Ovariectomized Mice

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
Jing Li
Citation Li J, McMurray RW. Effects of cyclic versus sustained estrogen administration on peripheral immune functions in ovariectomized mice. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 63: 274,281 Problem, Estrogens have multiple influences on immune functions. We aimed to compare the effects of cyclic versus sustained estrogen treatments under the same accumulated dose on peripheral immune functions in ovariectomized mice. Method of study, Ovariectomized adult Balb/c mice were treated with estradiol (E2) by s.c. injection once every 4 days (total 44.8 ,g) or by pellet implantation (total 44.2 ,g). After 6 weeks of treatment, all animals were immunized with DNP-KLH. Peripheral immune functions were assessed 10 days later. Results, Both cyclic and sustained E2 treatments significantly reduced the percentage of splenic B220+sIgM+ cells, enhanced IFN-, production and suppressed IL-6 secretion from Con A-stimulated splenocytes, and increased serum anti-DNP antibody levels. No differences were found in the above responses or in uterine weight gain between the two regimens of E2 administration. Conclusion, There are no differential effects on peripheral immune functions between cyclic and sustained estrogen administration under the same total dose. [source]


Increased aeroallergen-specific interleukin-4-producing T cells in asthmatic adults

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 12 2002
P. Pala
Summary Background Asthma, atopy and some forms of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease are thought to be caused by T cells making IL-4 (Th2 cells). However, not all patients with similar patterns of clinical disease have the same underlying pathogenesis and the ability to detect immunopathogenic T cells by examination of the peripheral blood remains in doubt. With the prospect of specific immunotherapy for diseases caused by T cell subsets, it is important to determine whether peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) reactivity can be used to establish the presence of immunopathogenic responses and therefore to predict therapeutic effects. Objective To detect IL-4 and IFN-, production as markers of Th1 and Th2 responses in the peripheral blood of atopic and asthmatic adults. Methods PBMC from 22 adult asthmatics (18 of whom were atopic) and 21 non-asthmatic volunteers (ten of whom were atopic) were stimulated with cat, birch and house dust mite allergens, human rhinovirus, RSV and recombinant chimaeric F/G protein from RSV in vitro. ELISPOT assays were used to enumerate cells producing IL-4 and IFN-,. Results Asthmatics had a sixfold increase in frequencies of IL-4-producing cells to cat and birch allergen (median values: 37 vs. 7 per million PBMC, P < 0.01 and 20 vs. 3 per million PBMC, P < 0.04, respectively) compared to non-asthmatics. By contrast, non-asthmatic atopics showed no specific increase in antigen-specific IL-4 responses and there was no evident correlation between skin prick test reactivity and ELISPOT results. Atopics had significantly more IFN- ,-producing cells specific for FG than nonatopics. while IFN-, and IL-4 responses to other antigens were not significantly different. Conclusion Enhanced IL-4 responses to non-viral aeroallergens are seen in adults with asthma, while enhanced IFN-, responses to viral antigen FG were seen in atopics. In practical terms, ELISPOT assays for specific cytokines may provide a method that could be used to monitor antigen-specific T cell responses in peripheral blood. [source]