MEASUREMENT AND COMPUTATION OF MURINE INTERLEUKIN-4 AND INTERFERON-GAMMA BY EXPLOITING THE UNIQUE ABILITIES OF THESE LYMPHOKINES TO INDUCE THE SECRETION OF IGG1 AND IGG2A

A specific and new method for measuring Interleukin-4 and Interferon-g amma, based on the estimation of IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes secretion fro m B cells is described. An antagonizing effect of Interferon-gamma in the production of IgG1 induced by Interleukin-4 was neutralized by usi ng antibody to Interferon-gamma. Similarly, the interference of Interl eukin-4 in the Interferon-gamma mediated enhancement of IgG2a producti on was blocked by anti-Interleukin-4 antibody. The high concentrations of Interleukin-4 and Interferon gamma inhibited the secretion of IgG1 and IgG2a respectively. Therefore, in the assay described, the sample s containing the cytokines were so diluted that their activity fell in to the non-inhibitory zone. A computer program has also been developed for determining the concentrations of lymphokines.