Studies on the capacity of human tonsillar lymphocyte subpopulations to produce interferon.

Tonsillar lymphocytes produced classical interferon (Type I) in response to NDV infection and produced immune interferon (Type II) in response to PHA, PPD or histo-incompatible antigens. Lymphocytes having higher specific gravity and having a greater proliferative response to mitogens or antigens produced more interferon than lymphocytes having lower specific gravity. There was no difference between heavy and light small tonsillar lymphocytes in regard to their sensitivity to the protective effects of interferon. As for the interferon produced in association with a cellular immune response, the peak of interferon production tended to appear earlier than the peak of 3H-TdR incorporation. It is suggested that tonsillar lymphocytes play an important role in human host defense against virus infections.