The influence upon mitogenic and cellular immunologic reactive systems in vitro by poly(I:C) and BCG murine interferons induced in vivo

Abstract

It has been demonstrated by other investigators that various interferon (IF) preparations significantly alter lymphocyte function. However, in vivo produced poly (I:C) and BCG interferons have not been characterized as to their respective influence upon various lymphocyte responses. Poly (I:C) and BCG interferon preparations were induced in A/J mice. The poly (I:C)-induced anti-viral titer was 1 12,000 and 1 10,000 for the untreated and acid-treated preparations while the BCG anti-viral titers were 1 8800 and 1 440 , respectively. Murine macrophage migration inhibitions (MMI) for the poly (I:C) and BCG-IF were 43 and 46%, respectively. Although both preparations were acid treated, only the MMI ability of the BCG-IF was significantly reduced to 8%. Con A (concanavalin A)- and PHA (phytohemagglutinin)-induced [ 3H]thymidine incorporation (H-IN) was suppressed by poly (I:C)-IF whereas BCG-IF enhanced H-IN. LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-stimulated H-IN was suppressed by both acid-treated and untreated IF. The one-way mixed-lymphocyte culture (MLC) was suppressed by both IF's. The in vitro plaque-forming cell (PFC) primary response to S-RBC was suppressed significantly by poly (I:C)-IF only. The selective effect of both serum interferon preparations on subsets of T- and B-lymphocytes appears to be unique.