In vitro inhibition of interferon alpha-2a antiproliferative activity by antibodies developed during treatment for essential thrombocythaemia
Catani, L.; Gugliotta, L.; Zauli, G.; Bagnara, G.P.; Antonelli, G.; Belmonte, M.M.; Vianelli, N.; Bonsi, L.; Brunelli, M.A.; Tura, S.
Haematologica 77(4): 318-321
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0390-6078 PMID: 1427442 Document Number: 388884
Background: Various authors have reported the development of anti-interferon (IFN) antibodies following IFN-alpha treatment for hematological malignancies. So far the methods for detecting these antibodies have not considered the antiproliferative activity of this IFN, which is its most important property in anticancer therapy. Methods: In this in vitro study we evaluated the ability of anti-IFN alpha-2a neutralizing antibodies to inhibit the antiproliferative activity of IFN alpha-2a and lymphoblastoid IFN alpha using megakaryocyte colony growth as the revelatory system. These antibodies were detected in two patients affected by essential thrombocythaemia (ET) who lost their hematological response to IFN alpha-2a, but responded to a subsequent treatment with lymphoblastoid IFN alpha. Results and Conclusion: The results show that the inhibition of megakaryocyte colony growth induced by IFN alpha-2a was totally suppressed in the presence of the two ET patients' sera, whereas the inhibition induced by lymphoblastoid IFN alpha was not significantly affected. These in vitro data demonstrate the high specificity and activity of these antibodies on the antiproliferative effect of IFN alpha-2a.