Enhanced production of interferon from human lymphoblastoid (Namalwa) cells pre-treated with sodium butyrate.

Pre-treatment of Namalwa cells with 1 mM-sodium butyrate enhanced interferon production induced by Sendai virus. This enhancement was reversed if the cells were incubated in butyrate-free medium. Butyrate treatment increased the rate of interferon production but not its duration. Yields of interferon from Namalwa cells were also enhanced in response to other inducers including the synthetic dsRNA, poly(rI) . poly(rC). Butyrate pre-treatment also increased interferon yields from cells of the vervet monkey kidney cell line, V3, but cells of the human diploid fibroblast line, MRC-5, did not respond.