Interferon-mediated inhibition of human polyclonal immunoglobulin synthesis.

Human lymphoblastoid IFN suppressed human polyclonal Ig synthesis in a dose-related manner, with 71% mean inhibition of antibody production found when 1000 units of IFN were added to the cultures. This suppression was demonstrated to be mediated by an electrophoretically pure preparation of IFN. Furthermore, IFN inhibition of both the T-dependent and the T-independent polyclonal activators was not the result of direct cellular cytotoxicity. IFN-mediated suppression of human polyclonal Ig production does not result from induction of T suppressor cells, and in a T helper cell-independent system this inhibition appears to result from either a direct action on the B cells or an indirect effect via monocytes.