IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF LOW-DOSES OF INTERFERON ALPHA,BETA IN MICE

  • 1 January 1988
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 42  (3) , 197-206
Abstract
We evaluated the immunomodulatory effects of mouse interferon (IFN) .alpha.,.beta. on the specific humoral response of mice (OFI) to sheep erythrocytes and on cell-mediated immunity by studying the cytotoxic activity of allospecific T-cells (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells. Four injections of 2 IU of IFN before administration of the antigen did not have an effect on the humoral response, whereas 4 injections of 2 .times. 10-10 IU of IFN caused a significant increase in the number of antibody-secreting cells. When C57BL/6 mice were treated with 5 injections of 2 IU or 2 .times. 10-10 IU of IFN before the second immunization with allogeneic cells, the CTL activity was not modified, but when the mice were also treated with 2 .times. 10-10 IU 3 times after immunization, this activity was strongly stimulated. IFN caused a decrease in the activity of CTL from NZB at both doses. The cytotoxic response of NK cells was stimulated by 5 injections of 2 IU of IFN in both strains of mice. The results of our study suggest that very low doses of IFN .alpha.,.beta. have immunopharmacologic activity.