Abstract
This introductory article describes an episode that took place in the mid-1980s when the first wave of cytokine discoveries took place. During studies aimed at complete purification of human interferon-γ from crude mitogen-stimulated lymphokine preparations, the use of two different antiviral bioassays for the cytokine yielded disparate results. Analysis revealed the presence of a “contaminant” IFN-like cytokine that was detectable with only one of the two assays. Superficially, the contaminant resembled IFN-β. However, further analysis showed that it was not an IFN at all but an IFN-inducing cytokine identifiable as interleukin-1.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Billiau, A., Opdenakker, G., Van Damme, J., De Ley, M., Volckaert, G., Van Beeumen, J. (1985) Interleukin-1: amino acid sequencing reveals microheterogeneity and relationship with an interferon-inducing monokine. Immunol. Today 6: 235–236.
Billiau, A. (1987) The interferon-interleukin 1 connection. In Interferon, Academic Press Inc., London, Vol. 9 pp.91–111.
De Ley, M., Van Damme, J., Claeys, H., Weening, H., Heine, J.W., Billiau, A., Vermylen, C., De Somer, P. (1980) Interferon induced in human leukocytes by mitogens: production, partial purification and characterization. Eur. J. Immunol. 10: 877–883.
Van Damme, J., De Ley, M., Claeys, H., Billiau, A., Vermylen, C., De Somer, P. (1981) Interferon induced in human leukocytes by concanavalin A: isolation and characterization of gamma and β-type components. Eur. J. Immunol. 11: 937–942.
Van Damme, J., Billiau, A., De Ley, M., De Somer, P. (1983) An interferon-β-like or interferon-inducing protein released by mitogen-stimulated human leukocytes. J. Gen. Virol. 64: 1819–1822.
Van Damme, J., Opdenakker, G., Billiau, A., De Somer, P., De Wit, L., Poupart, P., Content, J. (1985) Stimulation of fibroblast interferon production by a 22 K protein from human leukocytes. J. Gen. Virol. 66: 693–700.
Fujita, T., Reis, L.F., Watanabe, N., Kimura, Y., Taniguchi, T., Vilcek, J. (1989) Induction of the transcription factor IRF-1 and interferon-beta mRNAs by cytokines and activators of second-messenger pathways. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 9936–9940.
Fibbe, W.E., Van Damme, J., Billiau, A., Voogt, P.J., Duinkerken, N., Kluck, P.M.C., Falkenburg, J.H.F. (1986) Interleukin-1 (22-K factor) induces release of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating activity from human mononuclear phagocytes. Blood 68: 1316–1321.
Auron, P.E., Webb, A.C., Rosenwasser, L.J., Mucci, S.F., Rich, A., Wolff, S.M., Dinarello, C.A. (1984) Nucleotide sequence of human monocyte interleukin 1 precursor cDNA. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81: 7907–7911.
Van Damme, J., De Ley, M., Opdenakker, G., Billiau, A., De Somer, P., Van Beeumen, J. (1985) Homogeneous interferon-inducing 22 K factor is related to endogenous pyrogen and interleukin-1. Nature 314: 266–268.
Auron, P.E., Rosenwasser, L.J., Matsushima, K., Copeland, T., Dinarello, C.A., Oppenheim, J.J., Webb, A.C. (1985) Human and murine interleukin 1 possess sequence and structural similarities. J. Mol. Cell. Immunol. 2: 169–177.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Billiau, A. (2012). A Tale of Two Interferon Bioassays: How Frustration with Discrepant Results from Slightly Dissimilar Methods Can Engender Discovery. In: De Ley, M. (eds) Cytokine Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 820. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-439-1_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-439-1_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-438-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-439-1
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols