Abstract
T lymphocytes produce a variety of immunoregulatory molecules including gamma interferon (IFN-γ)1–3 and antigen-specific suppressor and enhancer factors4–7. During our studies of active substances obtained from cloned T-cell lines, we observed that certain fractions administered to mice resulted in enhancement of immune responses. Preliminary characterization of the substance suggested that it could be IFN-γ and we therefore undertook a study of the action of IFN-γ produced by recombinant DNA methodology on immune responses. We found that for several antigens, administration of IFN-γ to mice leads to two- to five-fold enhancement of antibody formation provided that the IFN-γ and antigen are administered together. The effect was dose dependent, giving a maximal response at 500–600 anti-viral units per mouse. Preliminary studies suggest that the macrophage may be the target of IFN-γ action. Addition of IFN-γ to cultures of a macrophage cell line leads to a greater than 10-fold increase in the level of RNA coding for I-region-encoded cell surface molecules.
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Nakamura, M., Manser, T., Pearson, G. et al. Effect of IFN-γ on the immune response in vivo and on gene expression in vitro. Nature 307, 381–382 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/307381a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/307381a0
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