RELATIVITY OF AN ANTIGENIC HOMOLOGY BETWEEN HUMAN INTERFERON-ALPHA-1 AND INTERFERON-ALPHA-2C

Analysis of an antigenic relatedness between human interferon (IFN)-al pha 1 and IFN-alpha 2 was performed with mapped monoclonal antibodies raised to the respective subtypes. Antigenic properties of immunoreact ive domains located in the N-terminal segments 30-67 of IFN-alpha 1 an d IFN-alpha 2 were found distinct when compared by neutralization bioa ssay or ELISA. On the other hand, corresponding domains exhibited an u nexpectedly high antigenic homology when tested by Western blot. We su ppose that this relativity in antigenic relation lies in the various e xtent of denaturation of IFN-molecules in bioassay, ELISA and immunobl ot. Structural differences of tested antigens may be responsible for a conformation-determined access of antibodies to the shared epitopes.