Neutralizing antibodies against human leukocyte, lymphoblastoid and fibroblast interferons elicited by immunization with human leukocyte interferon.

Guinea pigs, rabbits, and sheep were immunized with partially purified human leukocyte interferon. The antisera were tested for their neutralizing activities against human leukocyte, lymphoblastoid (Namalva) and fibroblast interferons. Rabbits and sheep developed high levels of neutralizing antibodies against all three interferons. The ratios of the neutralizing activities of leukocyte/lymphoblastoid interferons varied from 1 to 25 and those of leukocyte/fibroblast interferons from 2 to 500. The ratios increased with prolonged immunization. The guinea pigs developed relatively low levels of anti-leukocyte and anti-lymphoblastoid antibodies and as a rule failed to produce detectable neutralizing activity against fibroblast interferon. One sheep was given a booster injection of fibroblast interferon after preimmunization with leukocyte interferon. The booster injection stimulated a rise in antibody levels, not only for fibroblast interferon, but also for leukocyte and lymphoblastoid interferons. The antigenic relationships between leukocyte, lymphoblastoid and fibroblast interferons are discussed.