Antiproliferative activity of a hybrid protein between interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-beta.

A hybrid protein between interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-beta was made by ligating the respective genes and expressing the fused genes under the control of the trp promoter in Escherichia coli. The antiproliferative activity of the hybrid protein in vitro was greatly increased compared with either interferon-gamma or tumor necrosis factor-beta alone, and both antiviral activity and cytotoxic effect were retained in the hybrid protein. The hybrid protein may have potential clinical application.