Abstract
A monoclonal antibody to human interferon-α, termed HT-1 antibody, with a broad reactivity to various subtypes of interferon-α was prepared. It bound and neutralized all of the four subtypes of E. coli-derived human recombinant interferon-α (α1, α2, α4, and α6) tested; it also neutralized human natural leukocyte interferon but only partially. Human interferon-β and -γ were not bound. The antibody conjugated to Sepharose beads retained over 90% of human leukocyte interferon induced by Sendai virus. The bound interferon was recovered by acid elution in good yields and in almost pure form (specific activity was about 2×108 international units/mg protein). The purified interferon showed, in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, an activity profile with major peaks in a mol. wt. range of 17, 000-22, 000, which completely agreed with the profile shown by polyclonal antibody-purified interferon. Such purified leukocyte interferon-α preparations containing most of the naturally occurring subtypes can be useful for clinical and other purposes.
