title: Alpha/beta interferon is a neuronal growth factor.
abstract: We investigated the effect of alpha/beta interferon on neuronal survivability. E16 murine telencephalic vesicles were dissected aseptically and grown on collagen-coated coverslips. After 2 weeks of culturing, the media was supplemented with mouse alpha/beta interferon (1,500 U/ml). After an additional 2 weeks of culturing, all of the control cultures demonstrated significant neuronal death. In the 16 interferon-treated cultures, neuronal death took place only in 1 culture, baseline survivability occurred in 2 and proliferation in 13 cultures (p < 0.005). Thus, alpha/beta interferon sustains neuronal growth.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, University of Illinois, Chicago 60616, USA.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Plioplys
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Massimini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D016899:Interferon-beta