Role of γ-interferon in antibody-producing responses

• Published in: Nature (London) 1984-06, Vol.309 (5971), p.799-801
• Main Authors: Leibson, H. James, Gefter, Malcolm, Zlotnik, Albert, Marrack, Philippa, Kappler, John W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis of the immune response. Humoral and cellular immunity; Animals; Antibody Formation; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Cell interactions; Concanavalin A; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hybridomas - immunology; Immunobiology; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Interferon-gamma - immunology; Kinetics; letter; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphokines - biosynthesis; Mice; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); T-Lymphocytes - immunology
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/309799a0

Interferon preparations, especially those containing γ -interferon (IFN- γ ), have long been known to modulate immune responses 1–3 . However, because many studies used only partially purified interferons, it has been difficult to separate the immunoregulatory effects of the interferons from those of other biologically active molecules contaminating the preparations. Recently, with the cloning of the Interferon genes in mouse and man, it has become possible to use these cloned interferons directly to test their effects in assays other than those involving the protection of cells from viruses. For example, cloned IFN- γ has been shown to be a potent inducer of Ia antigen expression on macrophages 4,5 . Similarly, cloned IFN- γ has been reported to act as a macrophage activation factors, as judged by the ability of activated macrophages to kill tumour cells in vitro 6 . We demonstrate here that cloned murine IFN- γ can also substitute for a late-acting helper factor which acts synergistically with other helper factors in the stimulation of B-cell antibody responses in vitro .