Type I and Type II Interferon Receptors

Abstract

Binding site competition studies of ¹²⁵I-interferon (IFN)-γ were performed with homogeneous preparations of IFNs α₂, β, and γ. It was found that only IFN-γ could compete for the specific binding site of ¹²⁵I-IFN-γ in both WISH and FS11 cells. Thus, a clear distinction between the receptor of IFN- α and β on one hand, and the receptor of IFN-γ on the other hand, was obtained. This result is unambiguous because all IFN preparations which were used were purified to homogeneity by specific monoclonal antibody immunoaffinity chromatography. We propose to assign the names "Type I" for the receptor of IFN-α and IFN-β, and "Type II" for the specific receptor of IFN-γ.