title: A tale of two interferon bioassays: how frustration with discrepant results from slightly dissimilar methods can engender discovery.
abstract: This introductory article describes an episode that took place in the mid-1980s when the first wave of cytokine discoveries took place. During studies aimed at complete purification of human interferon-γ from crude mitogen-stimulated lymphokine preparations, the use of two different antiviral bioassays for the cytokine yielded disparate results. Analysis revealed the presence of a "contaminant" IFN-like cytokine that was detectable with only one of the two assays. Superficially, the contaminant resembled IFN-β. However, further analysis showed that it was not an IFN at all but an IFN-inducing cytokine identifiable as interleukin-1.
authors: Rega Institute for Medical Research, University of Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven), Leuven, Belgium. Alfons.Billiau@Rega.Kuleuven.be
authors: Alfons
authors: A
authors: Billiau
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008222:Lymphokines; D016899:Interferon-beta; D007371:Interferon-gamma