Production of Interferon by Alveolar Macrophages

Abstract

Acton, Jean D. (Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, N.C.), and Quentin N. Myrvik . Production of interferon by alveolar macrophages. J. Bacteriol. 91: 2300–2304. 1966.—Rabbit alveolar macrophages inoculated with parainfluenza-3 virus in vitro produce a viral inhibitor which possesses the properties of interferon. The interferon is nondialyzable, is stable at p H 4, is not sedimented at 100,000 × g , exhibits species specificity, and can passively protect other alveolar macrophages from infection with virulent rabbitpox virus. The possible significance of alveolar macrophage-produced interferon is discussed.