6] Induction of human interferon gamma with phorbol esters and phytohemagglutinin

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the induction of human interferon gamma with phorbol esters and phytohemagglutinin (PHA). It is well known that immune interferon (IFN-γ) is produced by lymphocytes in response to specific antigens or nonspecific mitogens. The T cell mitogen, PHA has been widely employed as an inducer of IFN-γ in cultures of human mononuclear cells from peripheral blood. 12- O -tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) (also termed phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)) is a potent tumor-promoting agent exerting hormone-like pleiotropic effects on growth, differentiation, and many other cell functions. Recently, it is shown that the cellular receptor for TPA and related phorbol esters is likely to be protein kinase C. Buffy coats can be employed as a source of cells instead of plateletpheresis residues. However, the average IFN-γ yields obtained from buffy coat-derived cultures are only about half of the yields obtained with cells from plateletpheresis residues. The reason for this difference is not known.