title: Effect of human fibroblast interferon on natural killer cell activity: stimulation in vitro and inhibition in vivo.
abstract: This paper describes the influence of human fibroblast interferon (IFN-beta) on the cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells (NK) in vitro and in vivo using the blood of healthy donors and myeloma patients. IFN-beta stimulates NK activity against all target cells tested in vitro in a dose-dependent way up to 250% of pretreatment values. At higher IFN concentrations, stimulation returned to baseline values. Stimulation was most pronounced in the lowest lymphocyte to target cell ratio. 1- to 2-h preincubation of effector cells with IFN was enough to achieve maximal stimulation. The effector cells of IFN-treated myeloma-patients, or patients with herpes zoster, showed a clear reduction of toxicity against all cells tested during the first infusion, as compared to the pretreatment values.
mesh_terms: D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D007372:Interferons