Porcine mitogen-induced interferon.

Induction of porcine interferon (PoIFN) with different lectins (phytohaemagglutinin, Lens culinaris lectin, Arachis hypogea lectin) in various concentrations (500, 50 and 5 micrograms/ml) was studied. Kinetics of PoIFN appearance was analyzed by antiviral and antiproliferative tests in human transformed and nontransformed cells. The relation between antiviral and antiproliferative activity of PoIFN in terms of respective units was determined. PoIFN was characterized in comparison with human interferon alpha by the acidostability and thermostability tests.