Electrophoretically pure mouse interferon exerts multiple biologic effects.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Virology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Crude or partially purified interferon preparations exhibit various biological effects.
• The specific molecular entities responsible for these diverse effects were not fully elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if electrophoretically pure mouse interferon molecules mediate previously observed biological effects.
• To establish the molecular basis for interferon's diverse biological activities beyond antiviral action.

Main Methods:

• Utilized electrophoretically pure mouse interferon.
• Assessed multiple biological effects in vitro and in vivo.
• Included tumor growth inhibition, cell multiplication, antigen expression, antibody formation, hypersensitivity, natural killer cell activity, and interferon priming.

Main Results:

• Pure interferon inhibited transplantable tumor growth and mouse tumor cell multiplication in vitro.
• Pure interferon enhanced histocompatibility antigen expression and natural killer cell activity.
• Pure interferon inhibited antibody formation and delayed type hypersensitivity.

Conclusions:

• The molecules responsible for interferon's antiviral action are also responsible for its diverse biological effects.
• This study confirms the pleiotropic nature of interferon molecules.