Interleukin 2- and interferon-production and expression of interleukin 2 receptors by human mononuclear cells stimulated with mumps virus or phytohaemagglutinin.

Interleukin 2 (IL 2) production, expression of IL 2-receptors and interferon (IFN) production in vitro by human mononuclear cells stimulated with inactivated mumps-virus antigen and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA, a T lymphocyte mitogen) were characterized. The detectable level of the T-cell lymphokine IL 2 in culture supernatants peaked after 18-24 hours for PHA stimulation and after 48 hours for mumps stimulation. The expression of IL 2 receptors was maximal on day 3 of PHA stimulation and days 5-6 of mumps stimulation. The IFN-level in culture supernatants showed only small variations during the culture period, both for mumps- and PHA-stimulated cultures, and IFN-gamma was detected in both cultures.