Murine monoclonal antibodies against human fibroblast (beta) interferon. Correlation of the neutralization of antiviral and antiproliferative activities.

Eight mouse hybridoma lines secreting monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) to human fibroblast interferon (HuIFN-beta) were established. All MoAbs were capable of neutralizing two different biological activities of HuIFN-beta: the antiviral activity and the antiproliferative activity. Positive correlation was demonstrated between the ability of hybridoma culture supernatants to neutralize the antiviral and antiproliferative effects of human fibroblast IFN. The neutralizing capacity of individual hybridoma culture supernatants depended on the concentration of MoAb in the sample. Only one of IFN-neutralizing MoAbs has shown binding capacity to human fibroblast IFN when used in enzyme immunoassay as solid-phase antigen. This MoAb was purified to homogeneity and its specific neutralizing activity against HuIFN-beta was calculated (3.5 X 10(4) I.U. per mg).