Production and characterization of anti-murine interferon-gamma sera.

A partially purified phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced spleen cell murine interferon-gamma (MuIFN-gamma) proved a potent immunogen in a rabbit and rats. Neutralizing anti-MuIFN-gamma activity was detected in rabbit serum following two biweekly subcutaneous inoculations of MuIFN-gamma emulsified in Freund's complete adjuvant. Further biweekly injections of immunogen in Freund's incomplete adjuvant, greatly elevated the serum anti-MuIFN-gamma neutralizing titer. Inbred DA rats also responded with serum neutralizing antibodies for MuIFN-gamma. Rabbit and rat anti-MuIFN-gamma sera neutralized the antiviral activities of MuIFN-gamma preparations produced by T-cells in response to different polyclonal T-cell mitogens or by sensitized T-cells stimulated with specific antigen(s). In addition, the antiviral activity of a rat IFN-gamma on murine cells was neutralized by rabbit anti-MuIFN-gamma serum, but not by the rat anti-MuIFN-gamma serum.