Dissociation of human interferon-gamma-like activity from migration-inhibition factor

Supernatants harvested from concanavalin A-stimulated human peripheral mononuclear cells after 24 hr of incubation contain one interferon species similar to human interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) with a pI of 4.6-5.3 (first day pH 5 IFN-gamm). In contrast, during the subsequent 24 hr of incubation two species with properties of IFN-gamma are produced with pI of 3.6-4.0 (second day pH 4 IFN-gamma) and 4.6-5.6 (second day pH 5 IFN-gamma), respectively. First day pH 5 IFN-gamma and second day pH 5 IFN-gamma have been found to differ on the basis of trypsin sensitivity. This pattern of polymorphism is similar to the pattern previously described for human migration-inhibitory factor (MIF) which can be separated into first day pH 5 MIF, second day pH 3 MIF, and second day pH 5 MIF. However, IFN-gamma-like species can be differentiated from MIF biochemically and antigenically. Fractions with second day pH 4 IFN-gamma have no MIF activity and fractions with second day pH 3 MIF contain no IFN activity. In addition, first and second day pH 5 MIF, which also contain IFN-gamma activity, can be separated from the latter by precipitation as well as neutralization with polyclonal and monoclonal anti-human MIF antibodies.