Production of Human Alpha- and BetaInterferons by Human–Rodent Hybrids

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Abstract
Attempts were made to demonstrate human α interferon production in virally induced human–rodent cell hybrids. In all hybrids investigated human β-interferon production was detected when the relevant human chromosomes were retained, but only low levels of human α interferon could ever be detected even when human chromosome 9, which contains at least eight α-interferon genes,(9) was present in the hybrid. The detection of human α interferon was made possible only by the use of specific antisera to human α and β interferons and the sensitive virus yield-inhibition assay. Evidence is presented for independent regulatory mechanisms governing the expression of human α and β interferons in human–rodent hybrids.