Unusual Monocyte‐Lymphocyte Interactions Determine the Specificity of the Immune‐specific Interferon Response Induced by Newcastle Disease and Herpes Simplex Viruses

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Abstract
Virus‐induced immune‐specific interferon (IS‐IFN) is produced by previously sensitized peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBML) three to five days after they are placed in tissue culture. This IS‐IFN is readily identified on the basis of its time of production and its synergistic composition of alpha and gamma interferons. The current studies demonstrate that circulating monocytes control the specificity and magnitude of the IS‐IFN response. No IS‐IFN is produced by PBML that are heavily depleted of monocytes. Immune‐specific IFN production is enhanced in PBML cultures that are partially depleted of monocytes. Partial monocyte depletion permits virus to induce the production of IS‐IFN by unsensitized PBML.