Lecithinization of IL-6 Enhances Its Thrombopoietic Activity in Mice

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
This study was conducted to assess the merit of lecithinization of recombinant human interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) as a drug delivery system. IL‐6 was lecithinized by covalently binding it with a phosphatidylcholine (lecithin, PC) derivative. The in‐vivo thrombopoietic potency of lecithinized IL‐6 (PC‐IL‐6) was greater than that of native IL‐6 when administered subcutaneously, although the in‐vitro bioactivity of PC‐IL‐6 was markedly reduced by lecithinization. When PC‐IL‐6 and native IL‐6 were given in doses that produced the same level of thrombopoietic activity, the former stimulated less production of IgG1, a marker of the adverse effects of IL‐6, than did the latter. Furthermore, PC‐IL‐6 persisted in the blood longer than native IL‐6. Based on the above, PC‐IL‐6 appears to be useful as a drug delivery system and may also be useful in the treatment of drug‐induced thrombocytopenia.