Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Intralymphatic Immunotherapy and Vaccination in Mice
Published on: February 2, 2014
Recombinant human interleukin-3: pharmacokinetics after intravenous and subcutaneous bolus injection and effects on
D J Hovgaard1, M Folke, B T Mortensen
1Department of Haematology, Rigshospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
The pharmacokinetics of E. coli derived recombinant human interleukin-3 (rhIL-3) was studied following intravenous (i.v.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) bolus injection of rhIL-3. After i.v. bolus injection in eight patients, serum peak levels of 34.5-135.0 ng/ml were reached, followed by a rapid decline with a t1/2 alpha of 17 +/- 2 min and a t1/2 beta of 59 +/- 7 min. After s.c. bolus injection in five patients, the absorption was more prolonged with peak serum levels reached at 2.8 +/- 0.4 h. Elimination was also more protracted, and serum base-line levels were reached at 14-24 h. The immediate effect of rhIL-3 on peripheral white blood cells was less pronounced and more variable than previously found for G- or GM-CSF. Following i.v. administration, neutrophils showed a moderate drop to median 64% of initial values (range 42-85%) at median 30 min after injection (range 15-60 min) followed by an increase at 24 h to 69-288% of initial values. Eosinophils dropped to a median nadir of 34% and then gradually increased to maximum values in the range 135-720% at 18-24 h. The effect of rhIL-3 was further examined following i.v. injection of autologous 111Indium-labelled granulocytes in six patients. In steady state, i.v. injection of rhIL-3 caused a moderate drop in 111Indium activity of peripheral blood within 20 min without tendency to subsequent recovery. No change occurred in the activity recorded over the lungs and liver. The activity over the spleen decreased moderately in two patients. These results are strikingly different from those previously obtained after i.v. injection of rhGM-CSF.
The pharmacokinetics of E. coli derived recombinant human interleukin-3 (rhIL-3) was studied following intravenous (i.v.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) bolus injection of rhIL-3. After i.v. bolus injection in eight patients, serum peak levels of 34.5-135.0 ng/ml were reached, followed by a rapid decline with a t1/2 alpha of 17 +/- 2 min and a t1/2 beta of 59 +/- 7 min. After s.c. bolus injection in five patients, the absorption was more prolonged with peak serum levels reached at 2.8 +/- 0.4 h. Elimination was also more protracted, and serum base-line levels were reached at 14-24 h. The immediate effect of rhIL-3 on peripheral white blood cells was less pronounced and more variable than previously found for G- or GM-CSF. Following i.v. administration, neutrophils showed a moderate drop to median 64% of initial values (range 42-85%) at median 30 min after injection (range 15-60 min) followed by an increase at 24 h to 69-288% of initial values. Eosinophils dropped to a median nadir of 34% and then gradually increased to maximum values in the range 135-720% at 18-24 h. The effect of rhIL-3 was further examined following i.v. injection of autologous 111Indium-labelled granulocytes in six patients. In steady state, i.v. injection of rhIL-3 caused a moderate drop in 111Indium activity of peripheral blood within 20 min without tendency to subsequent recovery. No change occurred in the activity recorded over the lungs and liver. The activity over the spleen decreased moderately in two patients. These results are strikingly different from those previously obtained after i.v. injection of rhGM-CSF.
Related Concept Videos
Routes of Drug Administration: Parenteral
The intravenous route (IV) of drug administration can be further categorized into two types. The bolus injection administers the entire dose rapidly, while an intravenous infusion slowly delivers smaller doses steadily.
The IV route is often...
Bioavailability: Overview
Two-Compartment Open Model: IV Bolus Administration
The disparity between drug input and the sum of drug transfer rates between...
Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Drug Elimination for IV Bolus Injection
Following the administration of a single intravenous (IV) bolus injection, we can determine the concentration of the drug in the plasma at any given time. This calculation is achieved using a specific equation that integrates the values of Vmax and KM.
We can also...
Drug Accumulation During Multiple Dosing: Repetitive IV Injections
Pharmacokinetic–Pharmacodynamic Relationship: Intensity of Dose-Effect Relationship

