Studies on the Effect of Interferon on the Formation of Antibody in Mouse Spleen Cells

Abstract

Summary The effect of interferon on three types of antibody response has been studied. The formation of primary sheep red cell-hemolyzing antibody was examined in the antibody plaque assay of Jerne. Primary sheep red cell agglutinin production and the induction of the secondary Shigella agglutinin antibody response were investigated by transfer of interferon-treated spleen cells to x-irradiated recipient mice. In no case did interferon exert any effect on the synthesis of antibody. However, antibody production could be depressed by exposure to the PR8 strain of influenza A virus. Since this effect of PR8 could be prevented by pretreatment of the cells with interferon, it is concluded that antibody-producing cells are susceptible to the action of interferon. These data indicate that interferon has no general effect on host cell protein synthesis in the uninfected antibody-producing cell.