Short circulatory residence of the hepatic binding protein.

We evaluated the distribution and fate of homologous radioactive Hepatic-binding-protein (125I-HBP) in the rabbit after intravenous (iv) injection and the possibility that this protein may induce interferon production. We demonstrated that only 9% of the injected 125I-HBP remained in the circulation 30 min after injection. The 125I-HBP-Asialoorosomucoid complex displayed a longer half-life than the HBP alone, while 125I-Asialoorosomucoid had a very short half-life and only 1% of the dose was found in the circulation after iv administration. Ten min after iv injection of 125I-HBP the major amount of radioactivity was present in the liver and less in the kidneys and lung. HBP, after iv administration, does not stimulate interferon production and this fact is probably due to its rapid catabolism.