Production of human leukocyte interferon for clinical use under immunoelectrophoretic control

Human leukocyte interferon (HLIF) can be contaminated by several antigens which may include also potentially pathogenic agents. For this reason, gel filtration as a separation method was included into the routine procedure of preparation and purification of HLIF for clinical use. Since production of HLIF requires the cultivation of leukocytes in the presence of serum (or albumin), serum proteins represent then the majority of proteins contaminating IF preparations. Measuring the total protein content, as a control of various antigens present in HLIF preparations during purification, becomes ineffective because, essentially, it indicates only the decrease of the amount of proteins derived from cultivation medium. For a better visualization of dissociation of different antigens from molecules with IF activity during the purification procedure, the method of quantitative immunoelectrophoresis was applied utilizing a sheep antiinterferon serum in assay. Our results indicate that this method represents a valuable control test.