Properties of Natural Porcine Interferons

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Natural porcine interferons (PoIFNs) were obtained from: adherent peripheral blood leukocytes induced with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) (IFN-.alpha.), kidney fibroblasts induced with poly(I:C) (IFN-.beta.) and whole blood leukocytes induced with phytohemagglutinin (IFN-.gamma.). PoIFN-.alpha. was active in porcine, bovine, human, and murine cells. It was sensitive to anti-human IFN-.alpha.antiserum. Analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by gel filtration, the molecular weight of the main fraction of PoIFN-.alpha. was between 25,200 and 28,700. PoIFN-.beta. and a small fraction of PoIFN-.alpha. were bound to concanavalin A which suggests that they are glycoproteins. PoIFN-.beta. and PoIFN-.gamma. were active only in procine and bovine, and porcine cells, respectively. Physicochemical properties of porcine IFNs resembled those of human IFNs. PoIFN-.alpha. or PoIFN-.beta. and PoIFN-.gamma. acted synergistically in the antiviral assays. Thus, the porcine IFN system appears to be similar to the system in the human and in murine species, being serologically related to the former.