Cytokine production in varicella-zoster virus-stimulated cultures of human blood lymphocytes.

Estimates of responder cell frequency (RCF) based on limiting dilution analyses are laborious, and alternative means to quantitate cell-mediated immunity to immunogens are desirable. It was shown that levels of interleukin (IL)-2 in the supernatant of varicella-zoster virus-stimulated blood lymphocytes from immune adults peaked at 48 h of culture and correlated partially with estimates of RCF (r = .74, P = .003). Levels of gamma-interferon, IL-4, and IL-10 increased through the first 4 days of culture, and gamma-interferon levels showed some correlation with peak IL-2 levels (r = .48, P = .03). Nevertheless, correlations between levels of these cytokines and RCF did not reach statistically significant levels.