Continuous Production of Interferon in Normal Mice: Effect of Anti-interferon Globulin, Sex, Age, Strain and Environment on the Levels of 2-5A Synthetase and p67K Kinase

Abstract

Two interferon-mediated enzymes, a 2-5A synthetase and a kinase that phosphorylates a 67,000 MW (p67K) protein, were found at variable levels in different organs of mice. Among the different strains of mice included in this study, germ-free mice had the lowest levels of these enzymes. The levels of 2-5A synthetase and p67K kinase were enhanced significantly in all mice following treatment with mouse (.alpha. + .beta.) interferon. The presence of 2-5A synthetase and p67K kinase in different organs of normal mice (untreated) was shown here to be due, at least in part, to a constant production of interferon under different physiological conditions. Accordingly, injection of normal mice with anti-mouse interferon (.alpha. + .beta.) globulin led to a significant decrease in the level of 2-5A synthetase and p67K kinase. In conventional mice (C3H/He), the level of both of these enzymes was higher in female than in male animals, and was decreased with age or when such animals were reared isolated in a pathogen-free protected unit. The levels of 2-5A synthetase and p67K kinase were also decreased in normal mice following injection with a powerful antibiotic against a very wide spectrum of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. These results suggest that the production of interferon was induced continuously in normal mice. Such induction was mediated by both internal and external agents.