Synergistic action of interferons (IFN-alpha/beta and IFN-gamma) of different species origin.

The effects of the mixtures of human, porcine and murine interferons (IFNs) alpha, beta and gamma and bovine IFN-alpha were studied in human, porcine and murine cells. The synergistic action of the mixtures of IFN-alpha/beta and IFN-gamma occurred not only in the homologous but also in the heterologous systems. The synergistic effect was observed when one of the IFNs was of alpha/beta type and the other one of gamma type and when both of them were active in the target cells, regardless of their species origin. Because PoIFN-alpha is active in the cells of numerous mammalian species, it is a good tool for the studies on the synergistic effects. The synergistic action of the mixture of IFNs was abolished after inactivation of one of the IFNs. Specific inactivation of IFN-alpha/beta in the mixture was accomplished by incubation with anti-IFN sera and in the case of IFN-gamma, by acidifying to pH 2.