Interferon synthesis by peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with bronchial asthma.

Interferon production by leukocytes of 28 bronchial asthma patients and 27 normal subjects was examined using whole blood technique. Interferon production in blood samples was induced by classical inducers and the obtained interferons were tested in A549 cells using EMC virus as challenge. Leukocytes from both atopic and infectious asthma patients showed decreased ability to interferon production in comparison to healthy donors. In atopic asthma statistically significant differences in interferon production induced by NDV, PHA + PMA and LPS were observed. In the case of infectious asthma lower amounts of interferon were noted after stimulation with LPS and PHA + PMA. A decrease in spontaneous interferon production was also observed.