In Vitro Biological Activities of Escherichia Coli -Derived Bovine Interferons-α,-β,and -γ

Abstract

The infectious yields of several bovine viruses were inhibited in bovine cells treated with purified preparations of E. coli-derived bovine interferons (BoIFNs)-α, -β, and -γ. BoIFN-β2, encoded by one member of the BoIFN-multigene family, had more potent antiviral and antiproliferative activities than the product of one member of the class-I IFN-α gene family (BoIFN-α_I1). BoIFN-β2 also competed more effectively than BoIFN-α_I1 with HuIFN-α_I2 for cell-surface receptors on bovine cells. Despite these differences, the kinetics of maximal antiviral activity were similar for BoIFN-α_I1, BoIFN-β2, and HuIFN-α_I2. In comparison to BoIFN-α_I1 and BoIFN-β2, BoIFN-γ had the least in vitro antiviral activity and required the longest contact with cells to achieve maximal protection against virus infection, but had a dramatically greater antiproliferative activity.