Ingested interferon alpha induces Mx mRNA.
We have demonstrated that ingested murine interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) suppressed clinical relapse in chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (CR-EAE), decreased inflammation and suppressed the adoptive transfer of EAE, and is a biological response modifier in patients with multiple sclerosis. We examined the relative levels of the Mx mRNA signal using semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis on splenocytes from mice and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from man after IFN-alpha ingestion. Both mice and man demonstrated inducible levels of Mx mRNA after ingesting IFN-alpha. Murine spleen T cells and CD8(+)T cells also demonstrated upregulation of Mx mRNA. Murine whole splenocytes demonstrated upregulation of Mx mRNA after IFN-alpha ingestion of 10 and 100 U, but not after 0, 1000, 5000 U. Ingested IFN-alpha acts via established pathways of type 1 IFN signalling.
Department of Neurology and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas-Houston, Houston, TX 77225, USA. sbrod@neuro.med.uth.tmc.edu
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Brod
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Nelson
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Jin
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Wolinsky
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000235:genetics*; D003720:Densitometry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016898:Interferon-alpha; C579070:Mx1 protein, mouse; D064547:Myxovirus Resistance Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins