Abstract

RECOMBINANT HUMAN INTERFERON-BETA: CURRENT PERSPECTIVES

DharamPal, Madaka Surya Teja, A.R. Satvik Iyengar and Abhay H. Pande*

ABSTRACT

Recombinant human interferon-beta (rhIFN-β) is a drug of choice for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and is also a potential candidate for the treatment of several other diseases in humans. However, there are several issues associated with the production of this therapeutic protein. In this review, we have presented the current perspectives on rhIFN-β. In the early part of this review, we have discussed about the characteristics of human IFNs, with a major emphasis on hIFN-β, followed by a brief discussion on the clinical applications of rhIFN-β. The later part of the review elaborates pros and cons of various expression systems used to produce rhIFN-β and various assays used to characterize the properties of recombinantly produced hIFN-β. Understanding the intricacies of the available production and characterization systems for rhIFN-β will have tremendous commercial impact. This may lead to cost effective generation of this therapeutic protein which will benefit both manufacturers and end users (patients).

Keywords: recombinant protein; interferon-?; expression systems, E. coli, inclusion bodies.