Virus Replication and High-Titered Interferon Production in Human Leukocyte Cultures Inoculated with Newcastle Disease Virus

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Abstract
High titers of interferon (20,480 culture-protecting units per ml) are produced in freshly prepared human leukocyte cultures inoculated with a Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-cell multiplicity of 1:1. NDV replicates to low titers in these cultures. Incubation of leukocytes at 37 C for 24 hr. prior to inoculation of NDV results in almost complete loss of detectable interferon production, but virus replicates to higher titers than in the freshly prepared cultures. In contrast, no diminution of interferon production in response to phytohemag-glutinin (PHA) occurs on 24 hr of incubation of cultures prior to addition of PHA. Experiments with cultures of predominantly pure cell fractions of peripheral blood indicate that the lymphocyte fraction produces interferon in response to either NDV or PHA, and that polymorphonuclear leukocytes produce no interferon in response to these agents. These studies suggest a hitherto unsuspected ability of human lymphocytes to produce high titers of interferon in vivo.