PRODUCTION OF IMMUNE AND VIRAL INTERFERON BY LYMPHOCYTES OF NEWBORN-INFANTS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 16  (1) , 33-36
Abstract
The ability of lymphocytes from newborn infants to produce 2 types of interferon was compared with that of lymphocytes from older children and adults. Cord blood lymphocytes were as capable of producing viral interferon (stable at pH 2.0) following stimulation with poly(I:C) and immune interferon (unstable at pH 2.0) following stimulation with phytohemagglutinin as lymphocytes from older individuals. In a mixture of mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells, the former produced the interferon. Interferon may be important in the defense mechanism of the newborn infant against viruses and other microbial agents.