Effects of interferon on the lymphocyte subset in the blood and lymphoid organs in mice.
The effects of mouse interferon-alpha/beta (MuIFN) or poly(I):poly(C) injection on the lymphocytes in the blood, thymus, and spleen of C3H/HeN mice were examined. A single injection of MuIFN (2 X 10(6) to 2 X 10(7) IU/kg of MuIFN) or poly(I):poly(C) (0.12-1.2 mg/kg) caused a significant lymphocytopenia without any evidence of direct cytotoxic effects on lymphocytes in the blood or lymphoid organs, a significant decrease in the number of T cells both in the thymus and spleen along with a significant increase in the number of non-T cells in the splenic white pulp, and a differential decrease in the number of blood T-cell subsets ("suppressor/cytotoxic" subset was decreased continuously whereas "helper" subset only transiently). The differential effect on T-cell subsets could explain the complicated effects of IFN on the cell-mediated immune response.
D000818:Animals; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000209:etiology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010641:Phenotype; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007372:Interferons