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. 1972 Sep;6(3):344–347. doi: 10.1128/iai.6.3.344-347.1972

Interferon Production Linked to Toxicity of Polyriboinosinic Acid-Polyribocytidylic Acid

Erik de Clercq a,1, William E Stewart II a, Pierre de Somer a
PMCID: PMC422539  PMID: 4564891

Abstract

Different procedures have been used in attempts to increase the production of interferon by polyriboinosinic acid-polyribocytidylic acid (poly [rI]·poly [rC]) in mice: simultaneous injection of lead acetate, cycloheximide, or actinomycin D and prior injection of Freund's adjuvant, chlorite-oxidized oxyamylose (COAM), endotoxin, or Brucella abortus. In the experimental conditions tested, lead acetate, cycloheximide, Freund's adjuvant, and COAM brought about a parallel increase in interferon production and toxicity (lethality) of poly (rI)·poly (rC); actinomycin D, endotoxin, and B. abortus increased the lethality of poly (rI)·poly (rC) without a concomitant raise of its interferon-inducing capacity. Our results indicate that no significant increase in interferon production (or antiviral activity, as far as the antiviral activity is accounted for by interferon production) without an accompanying increase in toxicity can be achieved with poly (rI)·poly (rC) and that it might be impossible to increase its therapeutic ratio (ratio of maximum tolerated dose to minimum effective dose).

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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