Effects of bacteria-produced human alpha, beta, and gamma interferons on in vitro immune functions

• Published in: Cellular immunology Vol. 84; no. 2; pp. 380 - 392
• Main Authors: Shalaby, M.R., Weck, P.K., Rinderknecht, E., Harkins, R.N., Frane, J.W., Ross, M.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.04.1984; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analysis of the immune response. Humoral and cellular immunity; Antibody-Producing Cells - drug effects; Antibody-Producing Cells - immunology; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Cell interactions; Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; Immunobiology; Immunosuppressive Agents - pharmacology; Interferon Type I - immunology; Interferon Type I - pharmacology; Interferon-gamma - immunology; Interferon-gamma - pharmacology; Kinetics; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - immunology; Thymidine - metabolism
• ISSN: 0008-8749; 1090-2163
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-8749(84)90110-2

The effects of bacteria-produced human interferons (HuIFN) α, β, and γ on in vitro immune functions of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were studied. Proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin was significantly inhibited by the addition of HuIFN-α2 or HuIFN-β at 10, 100, or 1000 U/ml. In contrast, HuIFN-γ showed suppressive activities only when added at 1000 U/ml. HuIFN-α2 or HuIFN-β caused significant inhibition of human mixed-lymphocyte reaction (MLR) as measured by [ 3H]thymidine incorporation. Similar inhibition was caused by HuIFN-γ when it was added only at very low concentrations (1 U/ml); 10, 100, or 1000 U/ml resulted in no or only a modest increase in MLR. All three interferons exhibited dose-related effects on PWM-induced immunoglobulin synthesis in cultures of PBMC. These data demonstrate that purified interferons produced by recombinant DNA technology can significantly alter in vitro immune functions and that HuIFN-γ has properties which are different from those of HuIFN-α2 or HuIFN-β.