title: Expression of gamma interferon on circulating lymphocytes in viral infections.
abstract: Peripheral blood lymphocytes from a total of 111 patients and 40 healthy individuals were studied for gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) expression on their surfaces by indirect immunofluorescence assay and flow cytometry, with a new anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody (IGMB-14) as a specific reagent. Of 64 patients with proven acute viral infections, 59 had a significantly higher percentage of lymphocytes expressing IFN-gamma on their membranes than healthy individuals did. On the other hand, only 3 (8.9%) of 34 patients with proven bacterial infections had an increased percentage of IFN-gamma-expressing lymphocytes. None of the eight patients with other infections and none of the five with systemic lupus erythematosus showed an increased percentage of IFN-gamma-positive lymphocytes. The percentage of IFN-gamma-expressing lymphocytes during a viral infection was found to be related to different stages of the disease. Finally, some applications of this rapid IFN-gamma assay method in viral diseases are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stellini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scalzini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pollara
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Foresti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonfanti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scura
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D012288:Rickettsiaceae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma