Inactivation of Interferon by Serum and Synovial Fluids 1

Abstract

The stability of interferons-α, -β, and -γ (IFN) in serum and synovial fluids were compared. Interferon-β was the least stable interferon species, losing at least 75% of its activity during incubation in samples of both serum and synovial fluid. Interferon-α was the most stable IFN, but interferon-γ under these conditions approached the stability of the α species. The inactivation of IFN-β was found due to dialyzable factors and hence not classical antibodies.