title: Assay of an interferon-induced enzyme in white blood cells as a diagnostic aid in viral diseases.
abstract: Interferon is part of the system of defence against viral infections and has important cell-regulatory and immunoregulatory functions. It is, however, not always possible to quantify circulating interferon in patients. An assay has been developed to measure an interferon-induced enzyme in white blood cells. The activity of this enzyme is constant in healthy subjects but increases by 2-10 times in 85% of patients with acute viral infections. It is also enhanced in autoimmune diseases and in virus-related malignancies and neurological disorders. The enzyme level was not raised in bacterial infections or non-infectious diseases studied. This simple and rapid biochemical assay of the interferon system could be used for diagnosis and evaluation of many diseases.
mesh_terms: D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase; D000208:Acute Disease; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000502:physiology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D011118:Polynucleotide Ligases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D007372:Interferons; D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase; D011118:Polynucleotide Ligases