The Journal of laboratory and clinical medicine
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Recombinant gamma interferon (rHuIFN-gamma) has been recognized to increase mRNA and protein levels of C1 inhibitor (C1 INH) in various human cells. Further, when administered to patients with colon cancer, it increased plasma C1 INH levels. A prospective trial was initiated to determine whether rHuIFN-gamma could elevate plasma C1 INH levels in six normal volunteers and two patients with type I angioedema. ⋯ It was found that immediately after rHuIFN-gamma treatment, tissue plasminogen activator activity and antigen levels were not significantly decreased in volunteers. Plasminogen activator inhibitor levels rose significantly, but this activity was not due to plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen, whose value significantly fell. These data suggest that rHuIFN-gamma may stimulate the expression of another plasminogen activator inhibitor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)