Production and characterization of marmoset lymphoblastoid interferon.

We describe the production of marmoset lymphoblastoid cell interferon (IFN). Optimal yields of IFN were obtained when EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) at a cell density of 1 X 10(6)/ml were incubated with 100 HAU Sendai virus/ml for 24 h. Sendai-virus-induced marmoset lymphoblastoid cell IFN was acid-stable and exerted antiviral activity on both homologous and heterologous human cells, thus allowing its classification as IFN alpha. Marmoset lymphoblastoid cell IFN did not inhibit the growth of herpesvirus-transformed marmoset T-or B-cell lines, but markedly enhanced marmoset NK-cell activity against human myeloid leukemia target cells. The use of lymphoblastoid cell IFN in marmosets in vivo may contribute to an understanding of the pathogenic role of IFN in herpesvirus-induced lymphoproliferative diseases.