Interferon Induces Natural Killer Cell Blastogenesis In Vivo

Abstract
Interferon (IFN), types beta and gamma, and IFN inducers polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus all stimulated the generation of blast-NK cells in mouse spleens. Blast-NK cells were characterized on the basis of size, 3H-thymidine uptake, and NK cell markers. These data indicate that in addition to augmenting NK cell-mediated lysis, IFN may regulate NK cell proliferation in vivo.