Abstract

Uriel Bachrach64596*

The naturally occurring polyamine-spermine can be oxidised by serum amine oxidase to yield imino-dialdehydes. Similar dialdehydes can be synthesized chemically by treating diamines with chloro-propionaldehydes. The oxidation products are cytotoxic and inhibit the growth of cancer cells as well as human, animal and plant viruses. A synthetic imino-dialdehyde, containing a diamine-hexane moiety, was more active than the spermine oxidation product and inhibited the growth of influenza and Newcastle disease viruses. The positively charged imino-dialdehydes, cross cellular membranes, interact with cellular nucleic acids and form a biologically inactive complex. Viral vaccines are usually prepared by treating viruses with formalin, which interact with viral membrane proteins. Human and or animal viruses treated with imino-dialdehydes, retain viral membranes and are therefore potent immunogens. Vaccination of animals with influenza or Newcastle disease viruses, inactivated by imino-dialdehydes, gave better results compared to conventionally prepared vaccines. Cancer cells are rich in polyamines and treating these cells with amine-oxidases, results in the formation of cytotoxic imino-aldehydes. This approach can open new avenues in cancer chemotherapy, inactivating viruses and potent vaccines.