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High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes
Published on: March 24, 2015
Antibodies developing against a single recombinant interferon protein may neutralize many other interferon-alpha
C M Brand1, L Leadbeater, G Bellati
1Biotechnology Development, Wellcome Research Laboratories, Beckenham, Kent, England.
Summary
High levels of neutralizing antibodies developed in three hepatitis C patients receiving recombinant interferon-alpha 2a (rIFN-alpha 2a) therapy, leading to clinical relapse and resistance to further treatment.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Hepatology
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant global health concern.
- Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy has been used to treat HCV, but treatment resistance can occur.
- Recombinant interferon-alpha 2a (rIFN-alpha 2a) is a specific type of IFN-alpha used in treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the development and specificity of neutralizing antibodies against interferon-alpha in hepatitis C patients.
- To understand the mechanisms behind antibody-mediated resistance to IFN-alpha therapy.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of patient sera for neutralizing antibodies against rIFN-alpha 2a and lymphoblastoid IFN.
- Chromatographic separation of lymphoblastoid IFN into fractions containing specific IFN-alpha subtypes.
- Testing the neutralization capacity of patient antibodies against individual IFN-alpha subtypes.
Main Results:
- Three out of 15 hepatitis C patients developed high levels of neutralizing antibodies against rIFN-alpha 2a, coinciding with clinical relapse.
- These antibodies also neutralized lymphoblastoid IFN, indicating cross-reactivity.
- All tested IFN-alpha subtypes present in the lymphoblastoid IFN fractions were neutralized by the patient sera.
Conclusions:
- Antibody-mediated resistance to rIFN-alpha 2a therapy can occur in hepatitis C patients.
- The neutralizing antibodies developed are broadly reactive against multiple IFN-alpha subtypes.
- This broad reactivity may explain treatment failure when switching to IFN preparations containing various IFN-alpha subtypes.
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