Abstract
Abstract
The temporal activation of the human interferon system by infection with virus was studied by serial measurements of both interferon in serum and activity of 2′,5′-oligo adenylate synthetase in peripheral mononuclear leukocytes. A frequency distribution of baseline values of synthetase was established for normal individuals. Following subcutaneous inoculation of rubella vaccine virus, serum interferon rose briefly with a peak on Day 14. The peak concentration of synthetase also occurred on Day 14 but remained elevated for greater than 1 week. After measles virus, serum interferon did not rise above baseline, but synthetase peaked on Day 14 and remained elevated. Subcutaneous inoculation of mumps vaccine virus was associated with a brief period of elevation of the synthetase and no interferon in the serum. Thus, the determination of synthetase levels in tissue may be useful in some situations to reflect a small or transient elevation of endogenous interferon.
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