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. 1988 May;79(5):647–655. doi: 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1988.tb00035.x

Induction of γ‐Interferon by Avarol in Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes

Rita Voth 1, Siegbert Rossol 1, Georg Hess 1, Hans P Laubenstein 1, Karl‐H Meyer zum Büschenfelde 1, Heinz C Schröder 2, Michael Bachmann 2, Petra Reuter 2, Werner E G Müller 2,✉
PMCID: PMC5917560  PMID: 3136118

Abstract

Avarol is a cytostatic and anti‐human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) agent. In this study, the avarol caused induction of γ‐interferon (IFN‐γ) in buffy coat cells (human peripheral blood lymphocytes) is demonstrated by immunological and molecular biological techniques. IFN‐γ production was detected after a 24‐hr incubation period with avarol; maximal production was obtained after 5 days in the presence of the optimal avarol concentration of 0.75 μg/ml. Blotting experiments using human IFN‐γ cDNA and β‐actin cDNA containing plasmids showed that in the absence of avarol no IFN‐γ transcripts were present in lymphocytes. Already after a 24‐hr incubation with avarol, IFN‐γ gene induction was detected, and maximal induction was found after a 5‐day incubation period. The enhanced IFN‐γ production seems to be caused by a change at the transcriptional and/or post‐transcriptional level, but not during subsequent nucleocyto‐plasmic transport of mRNA. This molecular event is specific, at least in relation to the expression of the β‐actin gene. Our studies demonstrate that avarol displays, besides its potential anti‐tumor and anti‐HIV activity, a potential immunomodulating effect.

Keywords: Avarol, Interferon‐gamma

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