Physico-chemical characterization and partial purification of mouse immune interferon

Mouse immune (type T) interferon was produced from suspensions of spleen cells (1 X 10(7) cells/ml) treated with 3 micrograms/ml of phytohaemagglutinin. The crude interferon was chromatographed on four sorbents with varying affinities, namely concanavalin A-Sepharose, Affi-Gel 202, Blue Sepharose CL-6B and Phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B. With each of these the interferon activity was observed to have considerable heterogeneity. By means of affinity chromatography, mouse immune interferon was purified 100 to 200 times with concomitant complete recovery of activity.