Helen Dahl

INTERFERON IN the SERUM and CEREBROSPINAL FLUID IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS and OTHER NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS

The presence of interferon (IF) was investigated in serum an cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from neurological patients. Significant titres of IF were found both in the serum and in the CSF in about half of the patients suffering from acute encephalitis and from multiple sclerosis (MS), but not in patients suffering from various non‐inflammatory disorders in the central nervous system (CNS) or in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), and not in the serum of healthy blood donors. Significant IF titres in the CSF were regularly associated with significant titres in the serum, but the converse was not true. Interferon levels were not correlated to cell counts in the CSF; nor to concentration of IgG and albumin in serum and CSF; nor to presence of electrophoretically oligoclonal IgG patterns; nor to hemagglutinating and gel‐precipitation antibodies against measles. IF levels were lower in the serum of patients having reduced serum/CSF ratios for measle antibody than those with normal ratios. the data may indicate that MS is linked to factors which induce IF production in the CNS.

Production of an Interferon-Like Agent Following Inoculation with Bacterial Vaccine

Summary Bacterial vaccine, inoculated intraperitoneally into mice, stimulated a virus inhibitor in the serum with the characteristics of interferon. The inhibitor could be detected from 2 to 24 hr after inoculation. Serial inoculations on alternating days resulted in slightly lower, but still significant, interferon titers compared with that after the initial inoculation. One dose of vaccine was protective against intranasal inoculation with vesicular stomatitis virus, shown by extension of the survival time.

Human interferon and cell growth inhibition. III. Separation of activities by treatment with sodium dodecyl sulphate

Abstract When human leukocyte interferon was treated with boiling sodium dodecyl sulphate antiviral activity without detectable effect on the growth of human amnion cells could be separated from the growth inhibitory activity by a single gel filtration. Similar results were obtained with mouse L-cell interferon. It is concluded that the two effects of interferon can be separated in distinct molecular entities.

Human interferon and cell growth inhibition. V. Effect of ouabain on interferon activities

Abstract The effect of ouabain on the antiviral and anticellular activities of interferon and its components was tested in RSb cells. These cells were found to be inhibited in growth by both components. Ouabain, known to block the antiviral effect of interferon without affecting the growth inhibitory effect, depressed both effects of the antiviral component. The effect of the growth inhibitory component was unaltered by the drug. The results support earlier suggestions that two different mechanisms may be involved in the growth regulation by interferon.