Poly ICs

Synthetic chemicals such as poly(inosinic) poly(cytidilic) acid [poly(IC)] and poly(IC) plus poly(lysine) [poly(ICL)], which are interferon inducers lev-amisole also is reported to increase phagocytosis, stimulate lymphoblast transformation, and increase delayed hypersensitivity reactions when their functions are depressed. 

Printed RFID-tags have already been demonstrated by companies active in the printed electronics industry. At the Organic Electronics Conference (OEC) 2007 in Frankfurt, in each conference-ticket an RFID-tag fabricated by Poly-IC (http //www.polyic.com) was incorporated [8]. 

Polymerase Activated DNA Primed M13 DNA (nM) dNTP (M each) cat (min ) Processivity bases Strand displacement Poly(rA)/ (dT) Poly(iC)/ (dG)... 

Further toxicological studies with poly IC have shown it to be toxic to the vascular and hepatic systems of mice, dogs and rats, and on the endothelial cells of the small blood vessels of the chick cerebellum. ... 

The diffuse severe necrosis of villous epithelium in the rat seen after poly IC administration is enhanced some 1000-fold in adrenalectomized ratals. There is some conflict with regard to toxicity in the rabbit eye, however, because in one study 1 mg. of poly IC given Intravenously produced lens opacity in the rabbit eye which persisted for over a month in a second study with Infected rabbits it was shown that a 1.3 mg. intravenous dose of poly IC exhibited a positive effect on the recovery from a herpes ocular infection but no lens opacity was noted 7. 

The results with Hong Kong influenza were not as significant . In considering any human trials, especially when poly IC is given by the Intravenous route, it is well to keep in mind the finding that human serum rapidly degrades poly IC. ... 

Theoretically, it may be possible to artificially increase the production of interferon by the action of an inducer. Synthetic double-stranded ribonucleotide polymers, in particular the double-helical complex of polyinosinic acid with poly-cytidylic acid RNA (poly IC) are used in this way These agents activate the synthesis of interferon. They increase the resistance to viruses of cells m culture, and promote recovery in rabbits suffering from herpetic eye infection. This type of activity is an important prospect in the field of antiviral therapy. 

Similar experiments have also been carried out using poly IC. In further recent experiments a tissue antagonist of interferon was isolated which may be the control protein, because when it was added at 4-6 hours under the same experimental conditions described above, it decreased by 40 fold the antiviral state Induced by interferon. Its activity is blocked by actlnomycin D. The protection against MM virus afforded by MDV, statalon, endotoxin, pyran copolymer, poly IC or Interferon is also antagonized by estrone. 

Further toxicological studies with poly IC have shown it to have no adverse effect on HFL-lB cells.In vivo experiments indicate a depression of zinc and iron concentrations in the serum of rats and rabbits but not monkeys in acute and subchronic (42 days) studies using 2 mg/kg/day, poly IC was well tolerated by rodents but not by dogs in calves it caused CNS depression and respiratory symptoms at doses of 0.1-1.2 mg/kg intravenously although at these doses very low titers of interferon were detected in the serum. 

There have been some interesting probes into the structural requirements for activity with double-stranded polynucleotides. Greater in vitro antiviral activity than is found with poly IC can be obtained by the sequential addition of the single-stranded homopolymer constituents e.g. addition of poly I followed at 10 min or even 1 day by poly C causes enhanced antiviral activity as does the addition of poly C followed at 1 min or 10 min by poly I. vivo the homopolymers must be injected intravenously within 1 minute of each other to achieve interferon levels even comparable with poly IC. This may well be a reflection upon the metabolic stability of single double-stranded RNA. Incubation of poly IC or even the alternating ribonucleotide copolymer poly r (A-U) at 37 in... 

Finally, it is claimed that a double-stranded RNA equivalent in potency to poly IC, could be produced on large scale using a restrictive coll strain and a mutant f2 phage. 

Phosphomannans isolated from several species of yeast are a new class of relatively non-toxic (acute LD50) interferon inducers. They cause formation of lower amounts of interferon in the rabbit than poly IC, but have similar induction kinetics. The materials retained their activity after digestion with beef pancreatic ribonuclease, thus ruling out the presence of RNA. 

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