Functional Monomers and Polymers CLXXVII.* Synthesis and Interaction Studies of Water Soluble Nucleic Acid Analogs: Polyethyleneimine Derivatives Containing Uracil and 5- Fluorouracil

Nucleic acid analogs were prepared by grafting uracil and 5-fluorouracil de rivatives containing a hydroxy group onto linear polyethyleneimine. The polymers contained about 90 unit% of the nucleic acid bases, and were freely soluble in water at neutral pH value. They were found to form polymer com plexes with polynucleotide by specific base-base interaction in aqueous solu tion.

Potent Immunomodulating Activities of Polyvinyladenine and (Vinyladenine-Alt-Maleic Acid) Copolymer

Polyvinyladenine [poly(VAd)] and poly(vinyladenine-alt,co-maleic anhydride) [poly(VAd-MA)] were prepared by free radical polymerization of vinyladenine and copolymerization of vinyladenine with maleic anhydride.

Spectroscopic study of the interaction between poly-(9-vinyladenine) and single or multistrand RNA

The interaction between poly(9-vinyladenine) (PVAd) and poly[r(U)] was investigated by means of uv, CD, 1H-, and 31P-nmr spectroscopies. The interaction was dependent on the molecular weight of PVAd determined by uv and CD spectroscopies. Based on imino proton nmr, it was clearly found that PVAd formed the complex with poly[r(U)] by complementary hydrogen bonding. The interaction of PVAd with double- and triple-stranded helices of RNA was also investigated by uv melting behavior and 31P-nmr spectroscopy. The results suggested that PVAd could not interact with the double-stranded poly[r(A)].poly[r(U)] but did with the triple-stranded RNA.

Changes in leukocyte recirculation, NK cell activity, and HLA-DR expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of MS patients treated with Poly ICLC

To investigate the cellular immune effects of the interferon inducer, Poly ICLC, in humans, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with multiple sclerosis receiving Poly ICLC as part of a preliminary clinical trial were studied. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell phenotype analysis using fluoresceinated monoclonal antibodies and flow microfluorometry showed decreases in the percentages and absolute numbers of all lymphocyte subsets 24 h after infusion. These changes returned toward baseline at 48 h except the percentage of CD-4 positive cell which increased above baseline levels. The percentage of HLA-DR antigen positive cells and CD-16 (Leu 11a) positive cells were increased 24 h after infusion but returned to baseline at 48 h. NK activity as determined by chromium release from K562 target cells was decreased at 24 h but increased 48 h after drug infusion. The increases in percentages of HLA-DR antigen and CD-16 positive cells at 24 h and NK activity at 48 h are consistent with the in vitro effects of IFN while the decreases in peripheral blood mononuclear cells are suggestive of changes in cell recirculation.