Kinetic and dynamic computational model-based characterization of new proteins in mice: application to interferon alpha linked to apolipoprotein A-I

PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e42100. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042100. Epub 2012 Jul 27.

Abstract

Interferon alpha linked to apolipoprotein A-I has been recently proposed as an improved interferon-based therapy. In the present study, we aimed to develop a computational model to gain further insight into the in vivo behaviour of this new fusion protein. In order to facilitate in vivo evaluation of interferon and the fusion protein without altering their biological properties, green fluorescent protein was incorporated into their structures. Kinetic and dynamic behaviour of both compounds was successfully described after plasmid hydrodynamic administration and in situ synthesis of the studied proteins. Results from the modelling exercise showed that apolipoprotein A-I conferred a modified kinetic behaviour, varying molecule distribution and prolonging half-life without altering liver dynamic performance. However, differences in the gene expression activity were observed at brain level between both compounds. Those differences could be explained by modifications in the dynamic, but also in the biodistribution properties, which would be worth evaluating in future experiments. Therefore, the modelling approach provided a global comprehension of a complex system and allowed us to compare the in vivo behaviour of both compounds and to identify critical aspects that might be important to understand the system better and suggests a need for new model-based experiments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apolipoprotein A-I / metabolism*
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Computer Simulation*
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / metabolism*
  • Kinetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Models, Biological
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Apolipoprotein A-I
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the agreement between FIMA and the “UTE project CIMA”, Red de Inmunoterapia INMUNONET-SOE1/P1/E014, Fundación Mutua Madrileña and Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS PI10/00264). Z.P.P-G was supported by predoctoral fellowship of “La Caixa”, Asociacion de Amigos de la Universidad de Navarra and of Spanish Ministerio de Educacion, Cultura y Deporte. J.F. and J.M-E. were supported by a fellowship of Spanish Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria. P.B. was supported by a Miguel Servet contract from Spanish Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.