Patent ID: 6489144
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: A61K,C07K,C12N,C12P,C12Q

Abstract:
A method for producing &agr;- or &bgr;-interferon, said method comprising the steps of:(a) selecting from a population of human cells a cell that overproduces protein kinase, RNA dependent (PKR) as compared with other unselected cells of the population, and as evidenced by a higher level of PKR produced by the cell than that produced by the other unselected cells; (b) culturing the cell or a progeny of the cell under conditions wherein the cell or progeny overproduces PKR as compared with other unselected cells of the population, and as evidenced by a higher level of PKR produced by the cell or progeny than that produced by the other unselected cells, (c) treating the cell or progeny with an inducer sufficient to induce expression of &agr;- or &bgr;-interferon by the cell or progeny, wherein &agr;- or &bgr;-interferon production by the cell or progeny is increased, and (d) collecting &agr;- or &bgr;-interferon produced by the cultured, treated cell or progeny, wherein the cell or an ancestor of the cell is transfected with a vector comprising a PKR gene under the control of a constitutive or an inducible promoter.