Expression and reconstitution of a biologically active human interferon-gamma receptor in hamster cells

We report the expression of the human interferon-gamma (Hu-IFN-gamma) receptor from a cDNA clone in an animal cell where both stable expression of the cloned receptor as well as its biological activity is demonstrated for the first time. Biological activity of the receptor (i.e. expression of surface histocompatibility antigens in response to human interferon-gamma) requires the presence of human chromosome 21 demonstrating the requirement for at least one other species-specific factor in the modulation of receptor action. This system should now facilitate delineation of regions involved in the binding of human interferon-gamma and receptor signal transduction.