Ability of human polymorhonuclear blood cells to produce interferon after induction with phage double-stranded RNA.

The ability of human peripheral blood leukocytes to produce interferon in response to phage double-stranded (ds) RNA was studied. Under the conditions used, interferon was produced not only by lymphocytes but also by polymorphs and monocytes. These "pure" cultures showed no marked differences in the degree of interferon production as compared with the mixed leukocyte culture. The involvement of polymorphs in the production of interferon induced by phage ds RNA is discussed.