Batch-to-batch reproducibility of Transferon™

Almost 50 Years of Monomeric Extracellular Ubiquitin (eUb)

Monomeric ubiquitin (Ub) is a 76-amino-acid highly conserved protein found in eukaryotes. The biological activity of Ub first described in the 1970s was extracellular, but it quickly gained relevance due to its intracellular role, i.e., post-translational modification of intracellular proteins (ubiquitination) that regulate numerous eukaryotic cellular processes. In the following years, the extracellular role of Ub was relegated to the background, until a correlation between higher survival rate and increased serum Ub concentrations in patients with sepsis and burns was observed. Although the mechanism of action (MoA) of extracellular ubiquitin (eUb) is not yet well understood, further studies have shown that it may ameliorate the inflammatory response in tissue injury and multiple sclerosis diseases. These observations, compounded with the high stability and low immunogenicity of eUb due to its high conservation in eukaryotes, have made this small protein a relevant candidate for biotherapeutic development. Here, we review the in vitro and in vivo effects of eUb on immunologic, cardiovascular, and nervous systems, and discuss the potential MoAs of eUb as an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and cardio- and brain-protective agent.

Integrated continuous manufacturing of inhalable remdesivir nanoagglomerate dry powders: Design, optimization and therapeutic potential for respiratory viral infections

While inhalable nanoparticle-based dry powders have demonstrated promising potential as next-generation respiratory medicines, erratic particle redispersibility and poor manufacturing reproducibility remain major hurdles hindering their translation from bench to bedside. We developed a one-step continuous process for fabricating inhalable remdesivir (RDV) nanoagglomerate dry powder formulations by integrating flash nanoprecipitation and spray drying. The nanosuspension formulation was optimized using a three-factor Box-Behnken design with a z-average particle size of 233.3 ± 2.3 nm and < 20% size change within six hours. The optimized inhalable nanoagglomerate dry powder formulation produced by spray drying showed adequate aqueous redispersibility (Sf/Si = 1.20 ± 0.01) and in vitro aerosol performance (mass median aerodynamic diameter of 3.80 ± 0.58 µm and fine particle fraction of 39.85 ± 10.16%). In A549 cells, RDV nanoparticles redispersed from the inhalable nanoagglomerate powders displayed enhanced and accelerated RDV cell uptake and negligible cytotoxicity at therapeutic RDV concentrations. No statistically significant differences were observed in the critical quality attributes of the inhalable nanoagglomerate powders produced from the continuous manufacturing and standalone batch modes. This work demonstrates the feasibility of large-scale continuous manufacturing of inhalable nanoagglomerate dry powder formulations, which pave the way for their clinical translation.

Increased survival in puppies affected by Canine Parvovirus type II using an immunomodulator as a therapeutic aid

Canine parvovirus type II (CPV-2) infection induces canine parvoviral enteritis (CPE), which in turn promotes sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Mortality in this disease is usually registered within 48-72 h post-hospitalization, the critical period of the illness. It has been recently described that the use of an immunomodulator, whose major component is monomeric ubiquitin (mUb) without the last two glycine residues (Ub∆GG), in pediatric human patients with sepsis augments survival. It is known that CXCR4 is the cell receptor of extracellular ubiquitin in humans. This work aimed to explore the effect of one immunomodulator (human Dialyzable Leukocyte Extract-hDLE) as a therapeutic auxiliary in puppies with sepsis and SIRS induced by CPE. We studied two groups of puppies with CPV-2 infection confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. The first group received conventional treatment (CT) and vehicle (V), while the second group received CT plus the immunomodulator (I). We assessed both groups' survival, clinical condition, number of erythrocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes during the hospitalization period. In addition, hematocrit, hemoglobin, plasma proteins and cortisol values, as well as norepinephrine/epinephrine and serotonin concentration were determined. Puppies treated with CT + I showed 81% survival, mild clinical signs, and a significant decrease in circulating neutrophils and lymphocytes in the critical period of the treatment. In contrast, the CT + V group presented a survival of 42%, severe clinical status, and no improvement of the parameters evaluated in the critical period of the disease. We determined in silico that human Ub∆GG can bind to dog CXCR4. In conclusion, the administration of a human immunomodulator (0.5 mg/day × 5 days) to puppies with CPE under six months of age reduces the severity of clinical signs, increases survival, and modulates inflammatory cell parameters. Further studies are necessary to take full advantage of these clinical findings, which might be mediated by the human Ub∆GG to canine CXCR4 interaction.

Consistency of a dialyzable leucocyte extract manufactured at GMP facilities by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The present work describes the development and validation of a first report including several non-invasive NMR schemes to identify parameters as local chemical environments, homo- and heteronuclear site-specific spin correlations, diffusion coefficient-dependent polydispersity indexes and quantification of identified peptide entities that composes a commercial human Dialyzable Leucocyte Extract (DLE), Transferon, an oral liquid formulation of low-molecular-weight peptides. The above parameters were useful indicators to verify reproducibility, consistency and homogeneity among the DLE batches manufactured at Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facilities and for batch-releasing purposes in a quality control laboratory. The results showed that peptide identity of the DLE is represented with both high reproducible one-dimensional proton spectra and diffusion coefficient distributions that predicts in turn a weight-average molecular weight of around 6.7-7.4 kDa and a mean polydispersity index of 1.13. The obtained NMR peptide fingerprint of the analyzed DLE allowed to i) confirm its structural homogeneity by line-shape analysis, ii) identify and quantify its peptide content within the total solution with qNMR methods iii) to confirm the robustness of the technique as a feasible alternative for routine analysis of Natural or non-Natural Complex Drugs, such as DLEs.

Sequencing Analysis and Identification of the Primary Peptide Component of the Dialyzable Leukocyte Extract "Transferon Oral": The Starting Point to Understand Its Mechanism of Action

"Transferon Oral" is a peptide-derived product with immunomodulatory properties obtained from the lysis and dialysis of human buffy coat. Its active pharmaceutical ingredient, generically known as Dialyzable Leucocyte Extract, is a mixture of peptide populations with reproducible proportions among batches. "Transferon Oral" modulates IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6 and increases the survival rate in a herpes infection murine model when oropharyngeally (ORO) administered, which correlate with clinical observations where "Transferon Oral" is used as a therapeutic auxiliary in inflammatory diseases. Notwithstanding, how a peptide-derived product elicits systemic modulation of cytokines when ORO administered remains unclear. To shed light on the pharmacology of "Transferon Oral" its peptide components must be known. Ten "Transferon Oral" batches were sequenced by mass spectrometry and the intact peptides were identified. The most abundant peptides were the monomeric human Ubiquitin (Ub), a globular low-molecular mass protein, and an Ub variant which lacks the two-terminal Gly (Ub-GG). Recombinant Ub prevented murine death when ORO administered in a herpes infection murine model. Besides, the percentage of survival increased in groups treated with Transferon Oral+Ub and decreased in groups treated with Ub-depleted "Transferon Oral" respect to the group treated with "Transferon Oral" only. Our findings indicate that the biological properties of "Transferon Oral" are partially associated to the Ub content. They suggest that Ub may activate its extracellular receptor (CXCR-4) in the stomach eliciting systemic immunomodulatory effects via vagus nerve. This is the first report that identifies an active component of "Transferon Oral" with the potential for the development of oral peptide immunomodulators.

Transfer Factor: Myths and Facts

Transfer factor (TF), also called "Lawrence transfer factor", or dialyzable leukocyte extract (DLE), has been used since the mid-twentieth century to transfer specific skin hypersensitivity through the injection of leukocytes from immunized donors to animals and humans. The main mechanism of action of TF has been suggested at the level of cell-mediated immunity, as it induces the production of migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ). Otherwise, TF can inhibit nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), and decrease tumoral necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and IL-4 levels. Given these biological effects, TF has been prescribed for a wide variety of conditions including infections, allergies, autoimmunity, and cancer, with inconsistent results. The exact nature of TF, however, remains unknown, so it has been impossible to accurately define its pharmacokinetics or dosage. This is further complicated because researchers have used TF in a variety of ways across the different studies: antigen-specific or non-antigen-specific, orally or subcutaneously administered, human and non-human origin. In this review we summarize the most important data about what TF is, its mechanism of action, how it is produced, its biological effects, and the available clinical trials using it, in order to establish its role and potential clinical applications in modern medicine.

Characterization of a Complex Mixture of Immunomodulator Peptides Obtained from Autologous Urine

A complex mixture of peptides plays a key role in the regulation of the immune system; different sources as raw materials mainly from animals and vegetables have been reported to provide these extracts. The batch-to-batch product consistency depends on in-process controls established. However, when an immunomodulator is a customized product obtained from the same volunteer who will receive the product to personalize the treatment, the criteria to establish the consistency between volunteers are different. In this sense, it is expected to have the same molecular weight range although the profile of peptide abundance is different. Here, we characterized the peptide profile of three extracts of an immunomodulator obtained from the urine of different volunteers suffering from three different diseases (i.e., allergic rhinitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic rhinopharyngitis), using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and mass spectrometry (MS). The peptides contained in the immunomodulators were stable after six months, stored in a refrigerator. Our results showed a chromatographic profile with the same range of low molecular weight (less than 17 kDa) in all analyzed samples by SEC; these results were also confirmed by MS showing an exact mass spectrum from 3 to 13 kDa. The fact that the peptide profiles were conserved during a six-month period at refrigeration conditions (2 to 8°C) maintaining the quality and stability of the immunomodulator supports the notion that it might be an alternative in the treatment of chronic hypersensibility disorders.

Validation of a Cell Proliferation Assay to Assess the Potency of a Dialyzable Leukocyte Extract Intended for Batch Release

Transferon^® is a blood product with immunomodulatory properties constituted by a complex mixture of peptides obtained from a human dialyzable leukocyte extract (DLE). Due to its complex nature, it is necessary to demonstrate batch consistency in its biological activity. Potency is the quantitative measure of biological activity and is also a quality attribute of drugs. Here we developed and validated a proliferation assay using Jurkat cells exposed to azathioprine, which is intended to determine the potency of Transferon^® according to international guidelines for pharmaceuticals. The assay showed a linear response (2.5 to 40 µg/mL), coefficients of variation from 0.7 to 13.6% demonstrated that the method is precise, while r² = 0.97 between the nominal and measured values obtained from dilutional linearity showed that the method is accurate. We also demonstrated that the cell proliferation response was specific for Transferon^® and was not induced by its vehicle nor by other peptide complex mixtures (glatiramer acetate or hydrolyzed collagen). The bioassay validated here was used to assess the relative potency of eight released batches of Transferon^® with respect to a reference standard, showing consistent results. The collective information from the validation and the assessment of several batches indicate that the bioassay is suitable for the release of Transferon^®.

Dialyzable Leukocyte Extract (Transferon™) Administration in Sepsis: Experience from a Single Referral Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Immunomodulatory agents have been proposed as therapeutic candidates to improve outcomes in sepsis. Transferon™, a dialyzable leukocyte extract (DLE), has been supported in Mexico as an immunomodulatory adjuvant in anti-infectious therapy. Here we present a retrospective study describing the experience of a referral pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with Transferon™ in sepsis. We studied clinical and laboratory data from 123 patients with sepsis (15 in the DLE group and 108 in the control group) that were admitted to PICU during the period between January 2010 and December 2016. Transferon™ DLE use was associated with lower C reactive protein (CRP), increase in total lymphocyte counts (TLC), and decrease in total neutrophil count (TNC) 72 hours after Transferon™ DLE administration. The control group did not present any significant difference in CRP values and had lower TLC after 72 hours of admission. There was no difference in PICU length of stay between control and Transferon™ DLE group. Transferon™ DLE administration was associated with a higher survival rate at the end of PICU stay. This study shows a possible immunomodulatory effect of Transferon™ on pediatric sepsis patients.

Development of Functional Antibodies Directed to Human Dialyzable Leukocyte Extract (Transferon®)

Transferon® is an immunomodulator made of a complex mixture of peptides from human dialyzable leucocyte extracts (hDLEs). Development of surrogate antibodies directed to hDLE is an indispensable tool for studies during process control and preclinical trials. These antibodies are fundamental for different analytical approaches, such as identity test and drug quantitation, as well as to characterize its pharmacokinetic and mechanisms of action. A previous murine study showed the inability of the peptides of Transferon® to induce antibody production by themselves; therefore, in this work, two approaches were tested to increase its immunogenicity: chemical conjugation of the peptides of Transferon® to carrier proteins and the use of a rabbit model. Bioconjugates were generated with Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH) or Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) through maleimide-activated carrier proteins. BALB/c mice and New Zealand rabbits were immunized with Transferon® conjugated to KLH or nonconjugated Transferon®. Animals that were immunized with conjugated Transferon® showed significant production of antibodies as evinced by the recognition of Transferon®-BSA conjugate in ELISA assays. Moreover, rabbits showed higher antibody titers when compared with mice. Neither mouse nor rabbits developed antibodies when immunized with nonconjugated Transferon®. Interestingly, rabbit antibodies were able to partially block IL-2 production in Jurkat cells after costimulation with Transferon®. In conclusion, it is feasible to elicit specific and functional antibodies anti-hDLE with different potential uses during the life cycle of the product.

Determination of Peptide Profile Consistency and Safety of Collagen Hydrolysates as Quality Attributes

Abstract

Collagen hydrolysates are dietary supplements used for nutritional and medical purposes. They are complex mixtures of low‐molecular‐weight peptides obtained from the enzymatic hydrolysis of collagen, which provide intrinsic batch‐to‐batch heterogeneity. In consequence, the quality of these products, which is related to the reproducibility of their mass distribution pattern, should be addressed. Here, we propose an analytical approach to determine the peptide pattern as a quality attribute of Colagenart®, a product containing collagen hydrolysate. In addition, we evaluated the safety by measuring the viability of two cell lines exposed to the product. The consistency of peptide distribution was determined using Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), Mass Spectrometry coupled to a reversed phase UPLC system (MS‐RP‐UPLC), and Shaped‐pulse off‐resonance water‐presaturation proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry [¹Hwater_presat NMR]. The mass distribution pattern determined by SEC was in a range from 1.35 to 17 kDa, and from 2 to 14 kDa by MS‐RP‐UPLC. [¹Hwater_presat NMR] showed the detailed spin‐systems of the collagen hydrolysates components by global assignment of backbone Hα and NH, as well as side‐chain proton resonances. Additionally, short‐range intraresidue connectivity pathways of identified spin‐regions were obtained by a 2D homonuclear shift correlation Shaped‐pulse solvent suppression COSY scheme. Safety analysis of Colagenart® was evaluated in CaCo‐2 and HepG2 cells at 2.5 and 25 μg/mL and no negative effects were observed. The results demonstrated batch‐to‐batch reproducibility, which evinces the utility of this approach to establish the consistency of the quality attributes of collagen hydrolysates.

Practical Application

We propose state‐of‐the art analytical methodologies (SEC, MS, and NMR) to evaluate peptide profile and composition of collagen hydrolysates as quality attributes. These methodologies are suitable to be implemented for quality control purposes.

The utilisation of human dialyzable leukocyte extract (IMMODIN) as adjuvant in albendazole therapy on mouse model of larval cestode infection: Immunomodulatory and hepatoprotective effects

Metacestode (larval) stages of zoonotic cestodes of medical and veterinary importance cause chronic infections associated with immunosuppression. During mouse model of cestode infection induced by larvae of Mesocestoides (M.) vogae, we investigated the effects of dialyzable leukocyte extract (DLE) containing low-molecular weight substances (under 10 kDa) prepared from peripheral blood leukocytes of healthy human donors (available under commercial name IMMODIN). In the experiment, the effects of DLE as adjuvant to anthelmintic albendazole (ABZ) as well ABZ mono-therapy were also investigated. We showed that DLE enhanced therapeutic effect of ABZ by significant reduction of parasites number in both biased sites. Furthermore, administration of DLE reduced fibrosis and concentrations of lipid peroxides in the liver and thereby showed cytoprotective effect. In contrast, higher hydroxyproline level and numbers of larvae enclosed in fibrous capsules were found in ABZ-treated group. In order to investigate whether DLE could affect parasite-induced immunosuppression, we evaluated selected immune parameters. The results showed that DLE administration to mice increased proliferation of concanavalin A stimulated splenic cells ex vivo. Similarly, in vitro study confirmed that DLE ameliorated hypo-responsiveness of T lymphocytes and partially reverted suppressive effect of parasites excretory-secretory products. In addition, flow cytometric analysis revealed higher numbers of T helper and NK cells in the spleen and peritoneal cavity of infected mice after DLE + ABZ therapy. We also found strongly reduced serum levels of TGF-β1 and IL-17 as well as modulation of cytokines associated with Th1/Th2 immunity. These results suggest that IMMODIN could serve as a suitable adjuvant to the primary anthelmintic therapy.

Transferon™, a peptide mixture with immunomodulatory properties is not immunogenic when administered with various adjuvants

Transferon, a human dialyzable leukocyte extract (hDLE), is a biotherapeutic that comprises a complex mixture of low-molecular-weight peptides (< 10 kDa) and is used to treat diseases with an inflammatory component. Some biotherapeutics, including those composed of peptides, can induce anti-drug antibodies (ADA) that block or diminish their therapeutic effect. Nevertheless, few studies have evaluated peptide-derived drug immunogenicity. In this study, the immunogenicity of Transferon was examined in a murine model during an immunization scheme using the following adjuvants: Al(OH)₃, incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA), or Titermax Gold. The inoculation scheme entailed three routes of administration (intraperitoneal, Day 1; subcutaneous, Day 7; and intramuscular, Day 14) using 200 μg Transferon/inoculation. Serum samples were collected on Day 21. Total IgG levels were quantitated by affinity chromatography, and specific antibodies against components of Transferon were analyzed by dot-blot and ELISA. Ovalbumin (OVA, 44 kDa) and peptides from hydrolyzed collagen (PFHC, < 17 kDa) were used as positive and negative controls, respectively, in the same inoculation scheme and analyses for Transferon. OVA, PFHC, and Transferon increased total IgG concentrations in mice. However, only IgG antibodies against OVA were detected. Based on the results, it is concluded that Transferon does not induce generation of specific antibodies against its components in this model, regardless of adjuvant and route of administration. These results support the safety of Transferon by confirming its inability to induce ADA in this animal model.

New and cost effective cell-based assay for Dialyzed Leukocyte Extract (DLE)-induced Jurkat cells proliferation under azathioprine treatment

The human Dialyzed Leukocyte Extract (DLE) is a heterogeneous mix of oligopeptides of <10kDa, extracted from leukocytes of healthy donors. There is significant clinical evidence of improvement using DLE during treatment of allergies, cancer,immunodeficiencies, and in mycotic and viral infections. Nevertheless, the DLE exact nature and mechanism of action have been elusive for more than 50 years. DLE biological activity testing is necessary in DLE production and quality control. Both in vitro and in vivo assays exist: E-rosette test, induction of delayed type hypersensitivity in mice, leukocyte migration and IFN-γ secretion. The animal-origin materials and in vivo assays convey a considerable logistic, ethic and economic burden, meanwhile the available in vitro assays have been reported with limited reproducibility and sometimes contradictory results. Here we are reporting a new DLE biological activity cell-based assay. The A20 and Jurkat cell lines were treated with (+Aza) or without (-Aza) azathioprine, DLE (+DLE) or both (+Aza/+DLE). After 72h, the cell proliferation was analyzed by the MTT or BrdU incorporation assays. In +Aza/+DLE treated cells, we observed a significant higher proliferation, when compared with +Aza/-DLE. In the absence of Aza, cells did not present any proliferation difference between -DLE or +DLE treatments. Both assays, MTT and BrdU showed similar results, being the MTT test more cost effective and we select it for validation as DLE biological assay using Jurkat cells only. We tested three different lyophilized DLE batches and we found consistent results with acceptable assay reproducibility and linearity. The DLE capacity for rescuing Jurkat cell proliferation during +Aza treatment was consistent using different liquid and lyophilized DLE batches, presenting also consistent chromatographic profiles. Finally, DLE treatment in Jurkat cells did not result into significant IL-2 of IFN-γ secretion, and known lymphocyte proliferative drugs failed to rescue Jurkat cells viability in presence of +Aza, as +DLE treatment did in our MTT assay. In conclusion, our new cell-based MTT assay has excellent DLE biological activity consistency, robustness and is cost effective, presenting important advantages over previous DLE activity in vitro and in vivo assays.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Dialyzable Leukocyte Extract in Autoimmune Prostatitis: Evaluation in Animal Model

Objective. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of Dialyzable Leukocyte Extract (DLE) in a murine model of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Methods. Histopathological characterization, prostatein Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, and immunohistochemical analysis for CD45, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-4 molecules were done in prostatic Wistar rats treated with DLE, placebo, or Dexamethasone. Results. Histopathological analysis of animals induced to prostatitis showed inflammatory infiltrate, mainly constituted by leucocytes and mast cells as well as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Serum prostatein concentrations were 14 times higher than those displayed by healthy animals. After DLE and Dexamethasone treatments, the inflammatory infiltrate decreased; the tissue morphology was similar to that of a normal prostate, and the prostatein decreased to the basal levels of healthy animals. DLE treatment produced a decreased expression of the cell surface marker CD45 and the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-17. On the other hand, the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 increased in both the Dexamethasone and DLE groups. Conclusion. DLE is able to modulate the inflammatory response in Experimental Autoimmune Prostatitis (EAP).

Early Differentiation of Human CD11c+NK Cells with γδ T Cell Activation Properties Is Promoted by Dialyzable Leukocyte Extracts

Reconstitution of the hematopoietic system during immune responses and immunological and neoplastic diseases or upon transplantation depends on the emergent differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells within the bone marrow. Although in the last decade the use of dialyzable leukocyte extracts (DLE) as supportive therapy in both infectious and malignant settings has increased, its activity on the earliest stages of human hematopoietic development remains poorly understood. Here, we have examined the ability of DLE to promote replenishment of functional lymphoid lineages from CD34⁺ cells. Our findings suggest that DLE increases their differentiation toward a conspicuous CD56⁺CD16⁺CD11c⁺ NK-like cell population endowed with properties such as IFNy production, tumor cell cytotoxicity, and the capability of inducing γδ T lymphocyte proliferation. Of note, long-term coculture controlled systems showed the bystander effect of DLE-stromal cells by providing NK progenitors with signals to overproduce this cell subset. Thus, by direct effect on progenitor cells and through activation and remodeling of the supporting hematopoietic microenvironment, DLE may contribute a robust innate immune response by promoting the emerging lymphopoiesis of functional CD11c⁺ NK cells in a partially TLR-related manner. Unraveling the identity and mechanisms of the involved DLE components may be fundamental to advance the NK cell-based therapy field.

Physicochemical Characteristics of Transferon™ Batches

Transferon, a biotherapeutic agent that has been used for the past 2 decades for diseases with an inflammatory component, has been approved by regulatory authorities in Mexico (COFEPRIS) for the treatment of patients with herpes infection. The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) of Transferon is based on polydispersion of peptides that have been extracted from lysed human leukocytes by a dialysis process and a subsequent ultrafiltration step to select molecules below 10 kDa. To physicochemically characterize the drug product, we developed chromatographic methods and an SDS-PAGE approach to analyze the composition and the overall variability of Transferon. Reversed-phase chromatographic profiles of peptide populations demonstrated batch-to-batch consistency from 10 representative batches that harbored 4 primary peaks with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 7%. Aminogram profiles exhibited 17 proteinogenic amino acids and showed that glycine was the most abundant amino acid, with a relative content of approximately 18%. Further, based on their electrophoretic migration, the peptide populations exhibited a molecular mass of about 10 kDa. Finally, we determined the Transferon fingerprint using a mass spectrometry tool. Because each batch was produced from independent pooled buffy coat samples from healthy donors, supplied by a local blood bank, our results support the consistency of the production of Transferon and reveal its peptide identity with regard to its physicochemical attributes.

Herpes murine model as a biological assay to test dialyzable leukocyte extracts activity

Human dialyzable leukocyte extracts (DLEs) are heterogeneous mixtures of low-molecular-weight peptides that are released on disruption of peripheral blood leukocytes from healthy donors. DLEs improve clinical responses in infections, allergies, cancer, and immunodeficiencies. Transferon is a human DLE that has been registered as a hemoderivate by Mexican health authorities and commercialized nationally. To develop an animal model that could be used routinely as a quality control assay for Transferon, we standardized and validated a murine model of cutaneous HSV-1 infection. Using this model, we evaluated the activity of 27 Transferon batches. All batches improved the survival of HSV-1-infected mice, wherein average survival rose from 20.9% in control mice to 59.6% in Transferon-treated mice. The activity of Transferon correlated with increased serum levels of IFN-γ and reduced IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations. Our results demonstrate that (i) this mouse model of cutaneous herpes can be used to examine the activity of DLEs, such as Transferon; (ii) the assay can be used as a routine test for batch release; (iii) Transferon is produced with high homogeneity between batches; (iv) Transferon does not have direct virucidal, cytoprotective, or antireplicative effects; and (v) the protective effect of Transferon in vivo correlates with changes in serum cytokines.

Swine Dialyzable Spleen Extract as Antiviral Prophylaxis

Worldwide, the most highly consumed meat is of porcine origin. The production and distribution of swine meat are affected by diverse health matters, such as influenza and diarrhea, which cause head losses and require the use of antibiotics and other drugs in hog farms. To stimulate newborn piglet immune responses and increase resistance to infections, we developed a spray-drying technique to produce dried swine dialyzable spleen extract (sDSE), an immunomodulator. Based on the size-exclusion ultra performance liquid chromatography quantitative analysis, it was possible to recover up to 58% of the product after the drying process. The biological activity of orally administered dried sDSE increased mouse survival and induced cytokine production in a herpes infection model.

Effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and immunomodulator on cytokines levels: an alternative therapy for patients with major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a psychiatric illness that presents as a deficit of serotonergic neurotransmission in the central nervous system. MDD patients also experience alterations in cortisol and cytokines levels. Treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is the first-line antidepressant regimen for MDD. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a combination of SSRIs and an immunomodulator-human dialyzable leukocyte extract (hDLE)-on cortisol and cytokines levels. Patients received SSRIs or SSRIs plus hDLE. The proinflammatory cytokines IL-1 β , IL-2, and IFN- γ ; anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-13 and IL-10; and 24-h urine cortisol were measured at weeks (W) 0, 5, 20, 36, and 52 of treatment. The reduction in cortisol levels in the SSRI-treated group was 30% until W52, in contrast, the combined treatment induced a 54% decrease at W36. The decline in cortisol in patients who were treated with SSRI plus hDLE correlated with reduction of anti-inflammatory cytokines and increases levels of proinflammatory cytokines at the study conclusion. These results suggest that the immune-stimulating activity of hDLE, in combination with SSRIs, restored the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine balance and cortisol levels in depressed patients versus those who were given SSRIs alone.