Abstract
Normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes were incubated in the presence of different concentrations of interferon for various incubation periods. Subsequently, the amount of β 2-Microglobulin and HLA-A, B and C surface antigens was estimated by means of quantitative immunofluorescence (flow cytofluorometry) and by a radioimmunoassay for β 2-Microglobulin. It was found that the amounts of these MHC antigens increased in a dose and time-dependent way after interferon treatment. Furthermore the influence of different temperatures on this IFN-induced increase in β2-Microglobulin was gradually enhanced after incubation at 37°C to 39°C, whereas a 40°C incubation mostly suppressed the β2-Microglobulin increase observed at 39°C.
The total amount of membrane associated β2-Microglobulin was estimated by a radioimmunoassay. After interferon treatment a β2-Microglobulin increase was observed ranging from 39% to 122% in different experiments.
It is shown that interferon is the substance responsible for the effects on lymphocytes reported here, because completely pure interferon-proteins had the same activity as has been shown for partially purified interferon preparations.
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