Production of antibodies against mouse immune T (type II) interferon and their neutralizing properties.

An antiserum to immune T-type mouse interferon was prepared in rabbits by repeated injections of interferon, induced by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) in mouse spleen cells and purified to 1 X 10(5) units/mg protein. The antiserum neutralized mouse interferons synthesized in vitro in response to several T mitogens and Brucella organisms, and also the type II interferon present in the serum of BCG-sensitized mice after an injection of the specific antigen, tuberculin. All these interferons are thus antigenically related; they are also all unstable at pH 2. In contrast, the antiserum did not neutralize interferons induced by West Nile virus (WNV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in vitro, or by lipopolysaccharide and Brucella organisms in vivo; all these interferons are stable at pH 2. It also failed to neutralize a non-glycosylated virus interferon prepared in the presence of tunicamycin.