Akio Matsuo

Effect of human leukocyte interferon on the metastatic lung tumor of osteosarcoma: case reports.

Three patients with pulmonary metastases of osteosarcoma underwent treatment with intravenous or intramuscular administration of human leukocyte interferon. In 2 cases, the size of the metastasized tumor mass diminished temporarily six or eight months after interferon treatment, and serum alkaline phosphatase levels decreased to normal. In 1 case, the tumor cell from the pleural exudate I could be isolated and cultivated in vitro. When 2,000 IU of interferon was added to the tumor cell culture, marked inhibition of tumor cell growth resulted. In the other case, interferon had no effect on the metastasized lung tumor.

Existence and unique N-terminal sequence of alpha II (omega) interferon in natural leukocyte interferon preparation

Human alpha interferon produced in Sendai virus-stimulated leukocytes was purified by immunosorbent affinity chromatography and subjected to subtype analysis. All subtypes in leukocyte culture supernatant were confirmed in purified preparation. One of these subtypes was reactive in Western blotting with antibody specific to alpha II (omega). N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of this particular subtype showed addition of two amino acids to the N-terminus of alpha II predicted through cDNA studies. The apparent cleavage site for leader sequence of alpha II was different from the site common to all other alpha subtypes. This is the first report on the isolation of natural alpha II and its unique N-terminal amino acid sequence.

Increased Nitroblue Tetrazolium Dye Reduction by Human Neutrophils Stimulated by Interferon In Vitro

Human leukocyte interferon enhanced nitroblue tetrazolium dye (NBT) reduction by human neutrophils (PMNs). Increase in NBT reduction paralleled increase in interferon dose. When human leukocyte interferon was heated to 60 C or 80 C for 30 min, both the antiviral activity and the effect on NBT reduction decreased. Human leukocyte interferon neutralized with anti‐human leukocyte interferon serum showed no effect on NBT reduction. A human fibroblast interferon preparation also enhanced NBT reduction. The species dependency of interferon was shown in NBT reduction as well as in antiviral activity.