Serum albumin

About: Serum albumin is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 16337 publications have been published within this topic receiving 516395 citations. The topic is also known as: blood albumin & ANALBA.

Pharmacokinetics and in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor response of an interleukin-2-human serum albumin fusion protein in mice.

Abstract: Purpose: Albuleukin fusion protein is a recombinant human interleukin-2 (rIL-2) genetically fused to recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA). The pharmacokinetics and pharmacologic activity of Albuleukin were examined in mice to determine whether the fusion protein had the immunomodulatory and anti-tumor properties of rIL-2 as well as a prolonged serum half-life due to the rHSA. Methods: The effect of Albuleukin on lymphocyte proliferation, IL-2 receptor binding, and release of IFN-γ from human NK cells were examined in vitro. For the pharmacokinetic analysis, Albuleukin and rIL-2 were administered intravenously (i.v.) and subcutaneously (s.c.) to BALB/c mice, both at a single dose of 500 μg/kg. The anti-tumor properties of Albuleukin were evaluated in a Renca tumor model in BALB/c mice and in a metastatic liver model of B16F10 melanoma in C57B1/6 mice. In the Renca tumor model, BALB/c mice were dosed intraperitoneally (i.p.) and s.c. with Albuleukin on days 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, and 23 and i.p. with rIL-2 daily for two periods of 5 days (days 10–14 and 17–21). In the B16 melanoma model, C57B1/6 mice were dosed s.c. with rIL-2 twice daily or Albuleukin every 48 h for 14 days. Results: In vitro, Albuleukin induced the proliferation of primary human and mouse T cells and B cells and primary human NK cells, competed with rIL-2 for binding to the IL-2 receptors, and induced the production of IFN-γ from primary human NK cells. The s.c. bioavailability of Albuleukin was about 45% relative to the i.v. dose. Plasma half-life was prolonged and ranged from 6 to 8 h with Albuleukin, compared to 19–57 min with rIL-2. Total clearance of Albuleukin was about 50-fold slower than that of rIL-2 after i.v. dosing. In vivo, Albuleukin suppressed the growth of Renca tumors and induced a dense infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Both Albuleukin and rIL-2 significantly reduced the tumor burden in mice with hepatic B16F10 metastases. Albuleukin significantly reduced the incidence of residual macroscopic hepatic tumors, resulting in improved survival relative to controls and rIL-2. Conclusion: Results from these studies suggest that the therapeutic efficacy of rIL-2 is improved in mice by prolonging its in vivo half-life through genetic fusion to albumin. Albuleukin, the fusion protein, had pronounced anti-tumor effects in Renca and hepatic melanoma tumor models without an increase in mortality. On the basis of its preclinical effects, Albuleukin was brought to the clinic to assess its therapeutic benefit in a variety of cancers.

The interaction of barbiturates with serum albumin and its possible relation to their disposition and pharmacological actions

Abstract: Ultrafiltration studies show that the reversible binding to bovine serum albumin of a series of barbiturates is related to the length and nature of the side chains. Binding is related to acidity, being maximal at about pH 7.8 to 8.0. With increasing drug concentration the fraction bound decreases but the total amount bound increases. With increasing protein concentration the fraction of drug bound approaches a maximum. Thiopental is more strongly bound than comparable barbiturates and will partially displace the latter from serum albumin. Thiopental in turn may be displaced by sodium lauryl sulfonate. Rabbit tissue homogenates are capable of binding larger fractions of barbiturate than can be accounted for by their serum albumin content. The extent of binding in vitro seems related in part to the distribution of the drugs in vivo. The extent of protein binding correlates fairly well with the known pharmacological properties of the drugs. The data on the binding of some barbiturates to serum albumin may be represented by equations similar to those employed by others to represent the binding of other small ions by serum albumin.

Safe vaccine for hepatitis containing polymerized serum albumin

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for an inexpensive safe vaccine for hepatitis infection. Immunogenic polymerized human albumin free of other hepatitis related immunogens is employed in a physiologically acceptable carrier as a vaccine for protection against hepatitis.

Correction of metabolic acidosis increases serum albumin concentrations and decreases kinetically evaluated protein intake in haemodialysis patients: a prospective study.

Abstract: BACKGROUND Metabolic acidosis in haemodialysis (HD) patients increases whole body protein degradation while the correction of acidosis reduces it. However, the effects of the correction of acidosis on nutrition have not been clearly demonstrated. STUDY DESIGN In this study we have evaluated the effects of 3 months of correction of metabolic acidosis by oral sodium bicarbonate supplementation on protein catabolic rate (PCRn) and serum albumin concentrations in 12 uraemic patients on maintenance HD for at least 6 months (median 49 months; range 6-243 months). Pre-dialysis serum bicarbonate, arterial pH, serum albumin, total serum proteins, serum creatinine, plasma sodium, haemoglobin, PCRn, Kt/V, and TACurea, were evaluated before and after correction. RESULTS Serum bicarbonate levels and arterial pH increased respectively from 19.3 +/- 0.6 mmol/l to 24.4 +/- 1.2 mmol/l (P < 0.0001) and 7.34 +/- 0.03 to 7.40 +/- 0.02 (P < 0.0001). Serum albumin increased from 34.9 +/- 2.1 g/l to 37.9 +/- 2.9 g/l (P < 0.01), while PCRn decreased from 1.11 +/- 0.17 g/kg/day to 1.03 +/- 0.17 g/kg/day (P < 0.001). No changes in Kt/V, total serum proteins, serum creatinine, plasma sodium, haemoglobin, body weight, pre dialysis systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and intradialytic weight loss were observed. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that correction of metabolic acidosis improves serum albumin concentrations in HD patients. The correction of acidosis induces a decrease in PCRn values, as evaluated by kinetic criteria, suggesting that in the presence of moderate to severe acidosis this parameter does not reflect the real dietary protein intake of the patients probably as a result of increased catabolism of endogenous proteins. The correction of metabolic acidosis should be considered of paramount importance in HD patients.