title: IFN-gamma enhances production of IFN-alpha in human macrophages but not in monocytes.
abstract: Monocytes/macrophages are efficient producers of alpha interferons (IFN), and IFN-gamma is a potent activator of these cells. The present study sought to investigate whether IFN-alpha affects the capacity of human monocytes/macrophages to produce IFN-alpha on induction with Sendai virus. Plastic-adherent human peripheral blood monocytes were grown in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for 3 weeks during which they were transformed into macrophages. At various times, the cultures were pretreated for 24 h with IFN-gamma and induced with Sendai virus for IFN-alpha production. Pretreatment with IFN-gamma had no effect on the production of IFN-alpha during the first days in culture. The production of IFN-alpha was thereafter significantly enhanced by the IFN-gamma pretreatment. Minute amounts of IFN-gamma, < or = 0.1 IU/ml, increased the production of IFN-alpha in macrophages cultured for more than 7 days. The cooperation between IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha in macrophages may play a role in the antiviral defense of the body.
authors.affiliation: National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cantell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pirhonen
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007369:Interferon Inducers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018108:Respirovirus / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007369:Interferon Inducers; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma