title: Spontaneous and induced interferon production by peripheral blood leucocytes from control population and patients with herpes genitalis.
abstract: The spontaneous and PHA induced levels of interferon were measured in peripheral blood leucocyte cultures of twenty-eight individuals diagnosed as positive for herpes genitalis, and in a group of control subjects. As reported by Cunningham and Merigan [1983] for herpes labialis, leucocytes from individuals with herpes genitalis produced low levels of interferon spontaneously; however, similar results were found for individuals within the control population. No statistically significant difference could be found for PHA induced interferon levels, antigen induced interferon levels, or helper/suppressor cell ratios between the herpes genitalis population and control population. Our results indicate that interferon does not play a major role in the latency or recurrence of herpes genitalis.
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007370:Interferon Type I; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D007371:Interferon-gamma