1987 Volume 28 Issue 3 Pages 310-318
The activities of the interferon-induced enzyme 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum were detemined by column method and radioimmunoassay (RIA). The levels of this enzyme activity in PBMCs by RIA correlated well with those by column method (r=0.86, p<0.01). The levels of this enzyme activity in serum by RIA paralleled those in PBMCs (r=0.43, p<0.05). The levels of this enzyme activity in PBMCs were significantly increased in patients with chronic hepatitis type B(p<0.05). The activities of the enzyme in PBMCs and serum were determined in patients with chronic hepatitis type B during the treatment of interferon-β. The levels of this enzyme activity were increased in PBMCs and serum, and the degree of this increase correlated well with the antiviral effect. The data showed that determination of this enzyme activity in serum by RIA is useful to observe an endogenous interferon response and anti-viral state during interferon treatment.
