Regulation of concanavalin A-activated suppressor cell activity by interferon.

In addition to its antiviral activity, interferon (IF) has been shown to have a wide range of immunoregulatory effects in vivo and in vitro. IF has been observed to be produced by concanavalin A (Con A)-activated suppressor cells and has also been postulated to be of importance in modulating their suppressor activity. To explore this possibility further, we examined the capacity of interferon-treated Con A-activated suppressor cells to alter the normal mitogenic response to Con A. Con A-activated suppressor cells were resistant to treatment with IF and no effect of either lymphoblastoid or leukocyte IF, when utilized in concentrations ranging from 1-1000 U/ml, could be shown on the suppressor activity of Con A-activated cells.