Antigenicity of mouse interferons induced in vitro and in vivo by poly(I).poly(C).

Various mouse IFNs induced by poly(I).poly(C) or poly(ICLC) were analyzed for the antigenic types by neutralization tests using anti-IFN-alpha and anti-IFN-beta antibodies. The IFN samples included IFNs produced by L cells, by spleen cells in vitro and ex vivo, and in plasma of mice injected with the inducers. L-cell IFN was estimated to consist of IFN-beta and IFN-alpha at a ratio of about 80:20. Spleen IFNs also consisted of both IFN species, but IFN-alpha was the major component. Blood IFN samples obtained 1-4 h after injection of poly(I).poly(C) or poly(ICLC) consisted of the two molecular species, whereas the samples 8 and 24 h after injection contained only IFN-alpha. High levels of IFN activity (IFN-alpha) persisted much longer in the circulation of mice injected with poly(ICLC) than in mice injected with poly(I).poly(C).