IFN-gamma, TNF, and IL-6 production by vaccinia virus immune spleen cells. An in vitro study.

The production of cytokines by virus immune spleen cells after in vitro restimulation was investigated. Vaccinia virus-primed spleen cells from CBA/H mice were stimulated in vitro with virus-infected UV-irradiated syngeneic cells. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell populations proliferated after restimulation. TNF, IL-6, and IFN-gamma were detected within 12 h of restimulation with maximal levels reached by 24 h. Adherent cells were major producers of IL-6 and TNF, whereas IFN-gamma production was dependent on CD4+ T cells and adherent cells. The IFN-gamma response was Ag specific, whereas the production of TNF and IL-6 was not. Stimulation with vaccinia virus constructs encoding IFN-gamma or TNF altered the levels of cytokines produced, in that IFN-gamma expression by stimulator cells led to increased IFN-gamma production, whereas TNF expression by stimulator cells augmented both TNF and IFN-gamma production by responder cells.