Lymphokines (Spl-LKs) capable of inhibiting toxoplasma multiplication in homologous cell monolayers in vitro exist in the supernatant of spleen cells from toxoplasma immune animals incubated either with toxoplasma lysate antigen (TLA), or with non-specific mitogens (4, 10, 12-15). Contained in the Spl-LKs is a toxoplasma growth inhibitory factor, Toxo-GIF (15), approximately 30, 000 to 40, 000 m. w., which inhibits toxoplasma multiplication in homologous but not in heterologous cells, thus showing species specificity (10).
Recently, circulating interferon (IFN) has demonstrated antiviral activity not only in homologous but also in heterologous cells (1, 2). In the authors' previous reports (11, 12, 18), the activity of gamma-interferon (IFN
-r) in the circulation of toxoplasma immune animals reached its maximum after 6 h while the Toxo-GIF activity peaked 24 to 48 h after TLA injection. The relationship of Toxo-GIF to IFN
-r, both of which are found in the same serum, had not yet been clarified. Based on the above observations, an attempt was made to determine whether immune serum, chemically hydrolyzed to its low-molecular components via enzymes and acid-alkaline hydrolysis, would inhibit toxoplasma multiplication not only in homologous but also in heterologous cells. It also aimed at detecting IFN activity from the same hydrolyzed samples.
Evidence was presented on the production and properties of Toxo-GIF and IFN in the circulating blood of toxoplasma immune mice, following the intraperitoneal injection of TLA. The IFN elaborated by this method was designated IFN
-r. This study deals mainly with some biologically active substances derived from hydrolyzed toxoplasma immune mouse serum (HS-LKs) or hydrolyzed spleen cell cultured lymphokines (HSpl-LKs) and their effects on parasite growth not only in homologous but also in heterologous cells. The HS-LKs and HSpl-LKs, approximately 3, 000-5, 000 m.w., strongly inhibited toxoplasma multiplication in homologous cells, without cytotoxicity, when administered in concentration of 0.5% or less. This substance, or substances, also inhibited toxoplasma multiplication in heterologous monolayers of bovine monocytes, canine monocytes and human heart cells. This ability to inhibit toxoplasma multiplication in homologous and heterologous cells was derived not from IFN
-r, but from Toxo-GIF or aToxo-GIF-like substance.
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