[Human interferon-lambda3 is a potent member of the type III interferon family]
>>Genes Immun. 2008 Nov 6. [Epub ahead of print]
Human interferon-lambda3 is a potent member of the type III interferon family.
Dellgren C, Gad HH, Hamming OJ, Melchjorsen J, Hartmann R.
1Department of Molecular Biology, Centre for Structural Biology, University of Aarhus, Aarhus C, Denmark.
Type III interferon (IFN) or IFN-lambda is a recently discovered family of IFNs that signal through the same downstream transcription factors as type I IFN but use a separate receptor complex composed of the IL-10R2 and the unique IFN-lambdaR1 receptor chains. We have established a simple and efficient expression system to produce highly pure and active IFN-lambda of the three human IFN-lambda isoforms (IFN-lambda1, -lambda2 and -lambda3) and used this to compare the biological activity of the different IFN-lambda subtypes. Surprisingly, we found IFN-lambda3 to possess the highest specific activity of the human IFN-lambda subtypes, exhibiting a twofold higher activity than IFN-lambda1 and a 16-fold higher activity than IFN-lambda2. Furthermore, in comparison with the commercially available preparations of IFN-lambda1 and -lambda2, we found our IFN-lambda preparation to be superior in activity.Genes and Immunity advance online publication, 6 November 2008; doi:10.1038/gene.2008.87.<<
Zymogenetics is aware of this team. Hartmann and a different group from the same institution published a related paper earlier this year, and it is noted on the publication list at the website. I was unaware of the subtypes. Also on the ZGEN publication list is a paper that deals with IFN-lambda1; although the institution mentioned is not ZGEN, at least one author was or is employed there. This makes me think that that is the subtype that ZGEN is using, but I do not know this. Anybody? I gather that when these authors say their IFN-lambda3 shows higher "bioiogical activity", the activity they refer to is the binding to the receptor complexes mentioned. Which may or may not make it the better drug candidate. The paper is not free, and I don't care quite enough to pony up for full text version, which might be more illuminating. Obviously ZGEN isn't going to change their version any time soon; the concern would be if a superior version with different IP was licensed to someone else.
Cheers, Tuck |
