Interferon and humoral immune response in experimental influenza. I. Infection with virus unadapted to the mouse.

Production of interferon by the peritoneal and alveolar cells as well as the production of antibody-producing cells by spleen in the experimental influenza in the mouse has been studied. At the time when the replication of virus lung was at the peak the alveolar cells, but not peritoneal cells were found to produce in vitro more interferon than the cells from the uninfected mice. At the same time in the spleen increased number of antibody forming cells (PFC) against sheep red blood cells was observed. In contrast, after intravenous or intraperitoneal injection of 5 X 10(8) EID50 of influenza virus which induced approximately 10(3) units of interferon per ml there was an inhibition of PFC in the spleen.