title: The capacity of blood lymphoid cells to produce alpha- and gamma-interferon is decreased during alpha-interferon therapy.
abstract: The influence of alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) therapy on the capacity of blood lymphoid cells to produce alpha- and gamma-interferon (IFN) was studied in 21 patients with gynecological tumors, i.e., ovarian carcinoma (14 patients) or condylomata accuminata (7 patients). The mean capacity of the lymphoid cells to produce alpha-IFN in response to Sendai virus was increased, although not statistically significant, as compared to an age- and sex-matched control group, whereas the mean capacity of the patients' blood lymphoid cells to produce gamma-IFN in response to PHA or PWM was slightly decreased as compared to the control group. One day after the first injection of alpha-IFN there was a statistically significant decrease in the capacity of blood lymphoid cells to produce alpha-IFN and this decrease remained after 3 months of IFN therapy in most patients investigated. One week after initiation of alpha-IFN therapy there was a statistically significant decrease in the capacity of the cells to produce gamma-IFN in response to PHA or PWM and in most patients studied this decrease remained after 3 months of treatment. We conclude that the capacity of blood lymphoid cells to produce IFN is suppressed during exogenous alpha-IFN therapy.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D007371:Interferon-gamma