@article{mbs:/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-66-4-711, author = "Galabru, Julien and Robert, Nadine and Buffet-Janvresse, Claudine and Rivière, Yves and Hovanessian, Ara G.", title = "Continuous Production of Interferon in Normal Mice: Effect of Anti-interferon Globulin, Sex, Age, Strain and Environment on the Levels of 2-5A Synthetase and p67K Kinase", journal= "Journal of General Virology", year = "1985", volume = "66", number = "4", pages = "711-718", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-66-4-711", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-66-4-711", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1465-2099", type = "Journal Article", keywords = "mice", keywords = "interferon induction", keywords = "enzymes", abstract = "SUMMARY Two interferon-mediated enzymes, a 2-5A synthetase and a kinase that phosphorylates a 67000 mol. wt. (p67K) protein were found at variable levels in different organs of mice. Among the different strains of mice included in this study, germ-free mice had the lowest levels of these enzymes. The levels of 2-5A synthetase and p67K kinase were enhanced significantly in all mice following treatment with mouse (α + β) interferon. Here, we show that the presence of 2-5A synthetase and p67K kinase in different organs of normal mice (untreated) was due, at least in part, to a constant production of interferon under different physiological conditions. Accordingly, injection of normal mice with anti-mouse interferon (α + β) globulin led to a significant decrease in the level of 2-5A synthetase and p67K kinase. In conventional mice (C3H/He), the level of both of these enzymes was higher in female than in male animals and was decreased with age or when such animals were reared isolated in a pathogen-free protected unit. The levels of 2-5A synthetase and p67K kinase were also decreased in normal mice following injection with a powerful antibiotic against a very wide spectrum of Grampositive and Gram-negative bacteria. These results suggest that the production of interferon was induced continuously in normal mice. Such induction was mediated by both internal and external agents.", }