title: Targeting of interferon to choroidal neovascularization by use of dextran and metal coordination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bioactive proteins such as interferon (IFN) have been reported to be combined with water-soluble polymers, such as dextran, through metal coordination, without need for complicated procedures. In the current study, the targeting and inhibitory effects of IFN combined with dextran on experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV) were studied in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interferon (IFN)beta was conjugated to dextran, which has metal-chelating, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) residues. Based on metal coordination, conjugation of IFNbeta with DTPA-dextran resulted from simply mixing both substances in an aqueous solution containing Zn(2+). The effects of IFNbeta on the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells (BRPECs) were evaluated. To evaluate the activity loss of IFNbeta by conjugation, the effect of the conjugate on HUVECs was compared with that of free IFNbeta. Experimental CNV was induced by subretinal injection of gelatin microspheres containing basic fibroblast growth factor in rabbits. The rabbits with CNV were intravenously treated twice weekly with 7.5 million international units (MIU)/kg per day free IFNbeta (for 4 weeks), with IFNbeta-DTPA-dextran conjugate containing 7.5 (for 2 weeks) or 0.75 (for 4 weeks) MIU/kg per day IFNbeta, or with saline. The effects of these substances were evaluated by fluorescein angiography and histology. To observe the accumulation of conjugate, the doses of IFNbeta in CNV tissues were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IFNbeta inhibited the growth of HUVECs and enhanced the proliferation of BRPECs. The conjugate seemed to preserve approximately 44% of IFNbeta activity. Although both doses of IFNbeta-DTPA-dextran inhibited progression of CNV in rabbits, longer term administration of a lower dose of IFNbeta-DTPA-dextran had a sustained inhibitory effect on progression of CNV (P < 0.05). Histologic studies revealed the inhibitory effect of IFNbeta-DTPA-dextran on progression of CNV. This conjugate prolonged the plasma half-life of IFNbeta and enabled IFNbeta to accumulate in the CNV in rabbits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, human IFNbeta was successfully used to target CNV, an enhanced antiangiogenic effect was achieved by combining it with dextran, based on metal coordination. This targeted delivery of IFNbeta may have potential as a treatment modality for CNV.
authors.affiliation: University Eye Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasukawa
authors.forename: Hideya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tabata
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamizuru
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Yoshihito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogura
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003911:Dextrans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D014471:Umbilical Veins
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D003911:Dextrans; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D016899:Interferon-beta; D004369:Pentetic Acid