We have characterized the functional properties of four highly purified recombinant human class I α-interferon subtypes whose biological activities have not been described previously. We selected biological and biochemical activities that may discriminate between different functions of these molecules. We found that the α subtypes could be discriminated only by antiviral-host range specificity and natural killer cell activation. Differences in their antiproliferative activity were cell line dependent. Competitive binding, antiproliferative activity in agar, enhancement of expression of HLA-ABC, elevation of 2′-5′-oligoadenylate synthetase levels and enhancement of phosphorylation of the Mr 69,000 protein kinase did not allow discrimination among the αI subtypes on the tested cell lines.

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This work was funded by a joint program between Cetus Corporation and Shell Oil Corporation.

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©1988 American Association for Cancer Research.
1988
American Association for Cancer Research, Inc.