Method of enhancing interferon production

Claim 1

In the production of interferon induced in cultured animal cells involving distinct induction and production phases, the improvement of initiating the production, at an elevated temperature, maintaining the elevated temperature for at least about one hour and subsequently reducing the temperature by at least about 3° C. to provide a reduced temperature for the balance of the production, said reduced temperature being maintained for a period of time sufficient to produce a majority of the interferon.

Claim 8

A method of producing interferon, comprising: (a) forming a cell culture of interferon-producing animal cells; (b) introducing an interferon-inducer into said cell culture in an amount sufficient to induce interferon production by said cells thereby initiating an induction period; (c) introducing an antimetabolite into said cell culture to effectively block the interferon production during said induction period; (d) removing said antimetabolite from said cell culture to initiate a distinct interferon production phase at a first temperature; and, (e) after interferon production at said first temperature for at least about one hour, reducing the temperature of said cell culture by at least 3° C. to a second temperature sufficient to sustain interferon production, said second temperature being maintained for a period of time sufficient to produce the majority of interferon.

Claim 9

A method of producing interferon, comprising: (a) forming a cell culture of interferon-producing animal cells; (b) introducing an interferon-inducer into said cell culture in an amount sufficient to induce interferon production by said cells thereby initiating an induction period; (c) introducing an antimetabolite into said cell culture to effectively block the interferon production during said induction period; (d) removing said antimetabolite from said cell culture to initiate a distinct interferon production phase at a first temperature; and, (e) after interferon production at said first temperature for at least about one hour, reducing the temperature of said cell culture by at least 3° C. to a second temperature sufficient to sustain interferon production, said second temperature being maintained for a period of time sufficient to produce the majority of interferon.

Claim 18

A method of producing interferon in a culture of interferon-producing animal cells, comprising: (a) forming a suspension of cell culture microcarriers in a cell culture medium; (b) inoculating interferon-producing animal fibroblast cells into said suspension of microcarriers to thereby form a cell culture of interferon-producing animal fibroblast cells; (c) maintaining said cell culture under conditions whereby said cells grow to a high cell density; (d) introducing an interferon inducer into said cell culture in an amount sufficient to induce interferon production by said fibroblast animal cells thereby initiating an induction period; (e) introducing an antimetabolite into said cell culture to effectively block interferon production during said induction period; (f) removing said antimetabolite from said cell culture to initiate a distinct interferon-production phase at a first temperature; and, (g) after interferon production at said first temperature for at least about one hour, reducing the temperature of said cell culture by at least about 3° C. to a second temperature sufficient to sustain interferon production for a prolonged period, said second temperature being maintained for a period of time sufficient to produce the majority of interferon.

Claim 19

A method of producing interferon in a culture of interferon-producing animal cells, comprising: (a) forming a suspension of cell culture microcarriers in a cell culture medium; (b) inoculating interferon-producing animal fibroblast cells into said suspension of microcarriers to thereby form a cell culture of interferon-producing animal fibroblast cells; (c) maintaining said cell culture under conditions whereby said cells grow to a high cell density; (d) introducing an interferon inducer into said cell culture in an amount sufficient to induce interferon production by said fibroblast animal cells thereby initiating an induction period; (e) introducing an antimetabolite into said cell culture to effectively block interferon production during said induction period; (f) removing said antimetabolite from said cell culture to initiate a distinct interferon-production phase at a first temperature; and, (g) after interferon production at said first temperature for at least about one hour, reducing the temperature of said cell culture by at least about 3° C. to a second temperature sufficient to sustain interferon production for a prolonged period, said second temperature being maintained for a period of time sufficient to produce the majority of interferon.