Interferon production by human-mouse hybrid cells: dominant mouse control of superinduction and priming.

We have examined the production of interferon by a number of human-mouse hybrid clones in response to polyriboinosinic acid:polyribocytidylic acid copolymer [poly(rI).poly(rC)] all of which produced both human and mouse interferons when stimulated with a virus. Their capacity to be superinduced and primed for interferon production in response to poly(rI).poly(rC) was compared to that of the parental human and mouse cells. It was found that the hybrids responded in a way similar to their mouse cell parents, indicating dominant mouse control of both the priming and superinduction phenomena.