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Updated: Oct 12, 2026
Development and Validation of an Ultrasensitive Single Molecule Array Digital Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay for Human Interferon-α
Published on: June 14, 2018
An interferon-induced 16-kD protein is present in the membranes of interferon-sensitive but not in
1Laboratory of Viral Oncology, Institut de Recherches Scientifiques sur le Cancer, Villejuif, France.
Abstract:
Human interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) or IFN-beta has been shown to induce a 17-kD membrane protein in human cells which when eluted from SDS gels inhibited the multiplication of cells of different human cell lines. We show herein that mouse IFN-alpha/beta induces a 16-kD membrane protein in L1210 and Friend erythroleukemia cells sensitive to IFN-alpha/beta, (but not in the derived IFN-alpha/beta-resistant cell lines) as well in primary and monolayer cultures of mouse embryonic fibroblasts and adult mouse hepatocytes, and in suspensions of spleen cells. In addition, IFN-alpha/beta enhanced the expression of an 11-kD membrane protein which could be shown by immunoprecipitation to be beta 2-microglobulin. Anticell proliferation activity was not recovered from the 16-kD fraction of the SDS gels.
Insights
Mouse interferon-alpha/beta (IFN-alpha/beta) induces a 16-kD membrane protein in sensitive cells, but this protein lacks anti-cell proliferation activity, unlike its human counterpart.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Human interferons (IFNs) induce membrane proteins that inhibit cell multiplication.
- The specific mechanisms and proteins involved in mouse IFN responses require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the induction of membrane proteins by mouse interferon-alpha/beta (IFN-alpha/beta) in various mouse cell types.
- To determine if the induced mouse membrane proteins possess anti-proliferative activity.
Main Methods:
- Treatment of mouse cell lines (L1210, Friend erythroleukemia) and primary cultures (embryonic fibroblasts, hepatocytes, spleen cells) with mouse IFN-alpha/beta.
- Analysis of induced membrane proteins using SDS-PAGE and immunoprecipitation.
- Assessment of anti-cell proliferation activity of eluted protein fractions.
Main Results:
- Mouse IFN-alpha/beta induced a 16-kD membrane protein in IFN-sensitive cells but not in resistant variants.
- This 16-kD protein was also observed in primary mouse cells and spleen cells.
- IFN-alpha/beta enhanced the expression of beta 2-microglobulin (11-kD protein).
- Anti-cell proliferation activity was not recovered from the 16-kD protein fraction.
Conclusions:
- Mouse IFN-alpha/beta induces a specific 16-kD membrane protein in a context-dependent manner.
- Unlike human IFNs, the induced 16-kD mouse membrane protein does not exhibit anti-proliferative effects.
- Interferon-induced membrane protein expression is complex and cell-type specific.
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