title: Pegylation of IFN-alpha and antiviral activity.
abstract: The development of pegylated interferons (PEG-IFN) has significantly improved the eradication rates in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Two forms of PEG-IFN have been developed, based on two pegylation chemistries: the 12-kDa linear PEG-IFN-alpha2b and the 40-kDa branched PEG-IFN-alpha2a. We compared the in vitro antiviral activity of linear and branched PEG-IFN using the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay. The specific antiviral activity of branched PEG-IFN was 7% of that of linear PEG-IFN. A given quantity of linear and of branched PEG-IFN does not represent the same biologic activity. A bioassay could give new insights to compare the pharmacokinetic profile of linear PEG-IFN and of branched PEG-IFN.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Virologie EA 2046-IFR 30, CHU Purpan, 31059 Toulouse, Cedex 9 France. aboulestin@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boulestin
authors.forename: Nassim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kamar
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sandres-Sauné
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alric
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vinel
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rostaing
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Izopet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001681:Biological Assay; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b