The Effect of Cell Density on the Production of Interferon 1

Abstract

Summary

L-929 cells growing under different conditions of spinner and monolayer cultures were compared according to cell counts, NDV replication, interferon production, and incorporation of radioactive precursors. With equal numbers of cells and NDV replication, the monolayer culture produced 4-32-fold more interferon than that from the respective spinner culture. The spinner and monolayer cultures were also different regarding their metabolic activity as measured by the incorporation of ³H-thymidine and ¹⁴C-leucine. DNA and protein synthesis were increased in the spinner culture in contrast to the minimal activity of the monolayer culture. The data shows that the monolayer culture possessed a larger capacity for the induction of interferon than that of the spinner culture, which provides further evidence that the density of cells and their metabolic state influence their production of interferon.

We thank Mrs. Jean Simkins and Miss Kathy Lambdin for excellent technical assistance, and Dr. David H. Carver for critical suggestions.