Abstract
Abstract
A human lymphoblastoid B-cell line (LDV/7) capable of replicating significant levels of transfer factor and immune RNA was found to produce high quantities of interferon continuously. The maximum yield of interferon (600 units/ml) was detected on the seventh day. The interferon was characterized as human leukocyte (α) type. This interferon exhibited broad antiviral activity against vesicular stomatitis virus, poliovirus, sindbis virus, Herpesvirus saimiri, and Epstein-Barr virus. Treatment of LDV/7 cells with TPA, PHA, or LPS failed to enhance interferon production. Furthermore, LDV/7 cells could not be induced with Sendai virus to produce larger amounts of interferon. Interferon production correlated best with cell proliferation. It is therefore possible that this cell line may be a good source for large-scale production of human leukocyte interferon as well as for cloning of the interferon genome, and for studies of gene expression.
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