title: Plasmodium falciparum parasites induce interferon production in human peripheral blood 'null' cells in vitro.
abstract: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were found to produce interferon (IFN) when stimulated by free P. falciparum parasites in vitro. On the other hand parasite-infected, intact erythrocytes were unable to induce IFN synthesis. When the IFN was characterized according to sensitivity to anti-IFN-alpha antibodies and pH 2 treatment it was found to consist of IFN-alpha. Cell fractionation procedures and analysis of each cell fraction with regard to natural killer (NK) cell activity and IFN-producing capacity revealed that both activities were confined to the same cell fraction. The possible relevance of the IFN-NK cell system in malaria is discussed.
mesh_terms: D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism*; D008215:Lymphocytes, Null / Q000378:metabolism*; D010222:Parainfluenza Virus 1, Human / Q000502:physiology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000502:physiology*; D011070:Poly I-C
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011070:Poly I-C