title: Gamma interferon enhances mitogenic responses induced by pokeweed mitogen.
abstract: Interferon (IFN)-induced suppression of the lectin-stimulated lymphoproliferative response was studied comparatively with human IFN-alpha, IFN-beta and IFN-gamma, using an equal unit of their antiviral activity ranging from 31.25 to 1000 IU/ml. Both IFN-alpha and IFN-beta inhibited phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-stimulated lymphoblastogenic response similarly in a dose-related fashion, but the IFN-gamma effect was far less. Indeed, the PWM-stimulated lymphocyte blastogenesis in the cultures incubated for 7 days was enhanced in the presence of IFN-gamma at a concentration of 62.5 IU/ml. The enhancing effect was found to be highest at the lowest concentration of IFN-gamma examined. The IFN-gamma induced enhancement of lectin-stimulated blastogenesis was found mainly in the PWM cultures incubated for 7 days but less in cultures incubated for 5 days or in PHA cultures incubated for 3 days, suggesting that the observed effect might be caused by the activation of interleukin production.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007370:Interferon Type I; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D007371:Interferon-gamma