High-yield interferon induction by 10-carboxymethyl-9-acridanone in mice and hamsters

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Abstract
10-Carboxymethyl-9-acridanone (CMA) is a very potent interferon inducer in young and old Swiss albino and congenitally asplenic mice. This compound (MW, 275) induced titers of interferon in plasma comparable to those obtained with the best viral inducers, attaining > 400,000 U[units]/ml in mice in 2-3 h. CMA concentrations were highest in mouse plasma 1 h after i.p. or oral delivery. Induction was dose-dependent over a wide range. I.p., s.c. or i.m. injections of CMA gave comparable ranges of interferon titers. Oral delivery by gavage gave lower titers (65,000 U/ml), but higher than those reported with other low MW interferon inducers in mice. CMA injected into week-old hamsters (which usually produce interferon poorly) induced levels of interferon as high as 6400 U/ml of plasma in a dose-dependent fashion, but kinetics of interferon induction was less rapid than in mice. The mouse and hamster interferons induced by CMA had physical characteristics similar to those of virus-induced interferons of the homologous species. The usually high yields of interferon obtainable with this chemical inducer suggest its use for further experimental antiviral or antitumor therapy.