Low temperature treatment of Namalwa cells causes superproduction of interferon.

Interferon production in Namalwa cells, a human lymphoblastoid line, was enhanced by lowering the incubation temperature after induction. The optimum conditions for this effect were established. At the lower temperature interferon synthesis proceeded at a lower rate but continued for longer. Interferon mRNA was shown to be associated with the polysomes for longer after induction. Addition of drugs that inhibit transcription did not prevent the increased production of interferon. Thus, the increased production of interferon is due to the prolonged translation of interferon mRNA.