In vitro biological characterization of IFN-β-1a major glycoforms

Recombinant human interferon β-1a (IFN-β-1a) is extensively used as the first-line treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Its glycosylation is recognized as having a complex impact on a wide range of molecule characteristics and functions. The present study reports the enrichment of IFN-β-1a glycoforms and their physicochemical and biological characterization by means of electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, sialic acid content, thermal denaturation and various in vitro bioassays (antiproliferative, antiviral, immunomodulatory and reporter gene assay). The glycoforms were fractionated by means of cation-exchange chromatography using recombinant IFN-β-1a derived from Chinese Hamster Ovary cell culture as starting material. The obtained fractions contained bi- and higher-antennarity glycans as described in the European Pharmacopoeia monograph (Nr. 1639E, Interferon beta 1a concentrated solution). The in vitro bioassay responses revealed a correlation mainly with the glycan antennarity. It is therefore suggested that all glycoforms have biological activity and play a role in modulating the overall IFN-β biological activity with higher-antennarity glycoforms being able to better sustain IFN-β-1a bioactivity over time. These data indicate the role of IFN-β-1a glycosylation in vivo and shed new light on the role of the glycosylation heterogeneity, in particular with regard to antennarity, on biological properties of glycoproteins.