Mechanisms inIn VivoRelease of Lymphokines. III. Separation of Gamma-Interferon (IFNγ) from Cytotoxicity in Inbred Strains of Mice

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Abstract
Inbred strains of mice sensitized with BCG and challenged with old tuberculin (OT) vary in their capacity to release IFNγ and MIF into circulation. Experiments were performed to correlate the presence of IFNγ with that of the cytotoxic effect in an attempt to learn whether these two activities in the sera may be separated. Sera from eight inbred strains were obtained at times after challenge and assayed for IFN and for cytotoxic activity. A correlation did not exist between the titers of IFNγ and the levels of cytotoxicity, i.e. sera from RF/J mice without detectable titers of IFNγ had cytotoxic activity, while sera from C57BL/KsJ mice that had high titers of IFNγ were not cytotoxic. Regulation of IFNγ titers could be achieved by administration of complete Freund's adjuvant to BCG sensitized mice. However, similar differences were not detected in cytotoxic activity. Therefore, IFNγ may be released, or the activity of IFNγ may be expressed in the circulation, in the absence of cytotoxicity.