Partial characterization of gamma (immune) interferon mRNA extracted from human lymphocytes.

Abstract
.gamma. (Immune) interferon (IFN-.gamma.) was induced in cultures of fresh human lymphocytes by combined treatment with a phorbol ester (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, TPA) and the T cell mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Compared to the IFN-.gamma. yields obtained with PHA induction alone, the inclusion of TPA caused a significant enhancement of IFN-.gamma. production. Poly(A)-containing mRNA was isolated from mononuclear cells induced with TPA and PHA. Injected into Xenopus laevis oocytes, this mRNA preparation gave rise to IFN activity with characteristic properties of human IFN-.gamma.. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation analysis showed that IFN-.gamma. mRNA sedimented at 15 S, suggesting that it contains .apprx. 1400 nucleotides.