Description
Three types of interferons have been described: interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), interferon-beta (IFN-beta), and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). An extensive variety of biological effects have been observed for the interferon family including antiviral activity; anti-proliferative activity; stimulation of cytotoxic activities in lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and macrophages; and modulation of the major histocompatibility complex. Only one mouse-IFN-beta gene has yet been described. It codes for a 161 amino acid polypeptide (20kD). Mouse-IFN-beta binds to the type I interferon receptor. It is not recognized by antibodies directed against mouse
One unit of mouse beta interferon is the amount of beta interferon which protects 50% of the indicator cell population from viral destruction. One unit of Mouse Beta Interferon approximates the bioactivity contained in one unit of the mouse beta interferon standard prepared by NIH (Gb02-902-511)