Interferon synthesis by peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with bronchial asthma.

Interferon production by leukocytes of 28 bronchial asthma patients and 27 normal subjects was examined using whole blood technique. Interferon production in blood samples was induced by classical inducers and the obtained interferons were tested in A549 cells using EMC virus as challenge. Leukocytes from both atopic and infectious asthma patients showed decreased ability to interferon production in comparison to healthy donors. In atopic asthma statistically significant differences in interferon production induced by NDV, PHA + PMA and LPS were observed. In the case of infectious asthma lower amounts of interferon were noted after stimulation with LPS and PHA + PMA. A decrease in spontaneous interferon production was also observed.

Effect of antihistamines on interferon production by leukocytes from sensitized and non-sensitized mice.

The effect of four antihistamines (Intal, Zaditen, Tavegyl, Benzhydramine) on interferon production in mice was investigated. The agents were administered in vivo to ovalbumin-sensitized and non-sensitized mice, or in vitro to isolated peritoneal cell cultures. The cells were induced for interferon production with Newcastle virus. It was shown that Tavegyl and Benzhydramine, both after in vivo and in vitro administration, inhibit interferon production, while Intal and Zaditen had no effect.

Modulation of interferon synthesis with the drugs applied in bronchial asthma.

Investigations were carried out on 28 patients with nonatopic bronchial asthma treated with glycocorticosteroids or antibiotics and on 15 patients with atopic bronchial asthma treated with Alavac S vaccine. Leukocytes isolated from these patients by the method of Mogensen and Cantell were induced with Newcastle disease virus for interferon production, IFN was tested in the culture of human fibroblasts (HAT). The production of leukocytic IFN in glycocorticosteroids- and antibiotics-treated patients was shown to increase. On the contrary, the leukocytes from the patients 3 months treated with Alavac S exhibited suppressed production of the interferon.

Production of interferon by leukocytes from patients with atopic and nonatopic asthma.

Investigations were carried out on 62 patients with atopic and nonatopic asthma and 70 normal individuals. Leukocytes isolated according to the method of Mogensen and Cantell, were induced for interferon production with Newcastle virus, H strain for 24 h at 37 degrees C in a tube culture placed in rolling drum. Interferon was assayed in the culture of human fibroblasts (HAT). Leukocytes from patients with both types of asthma had reduced interferon-inducing activity. At acute viral infection, a transient increase of interferon titer was observed. The titer, however, never reached the values of interferon induced in leukocytes from healthy individuals.

The course of influenza virus infection in mice sensitized with hen's egg albumin.

The present study was undertaken to test the effect of sensitization of mice with ovalbumin on the course of influenza virus infection. It was shown that the endogenous interferon level as well as degree of degranulation of lung mast cells were higher in sensitized and influenza virus-infected mice than in infected and nonsensitized ones. Also, lung cells of mice subjected to influenza virus effect in vitro revealed higher degranulation degree.

Effect of verapamil on interferon production, mastocyte degranulation and histamine release--studies in mice sensitized with ovalbumin.

The effect of verapamil, calcium antagonist, on the IFN production, the histamine release and degranulation of mastocytes were studied. The mastocytes were harvested from mice sensitized with ovalbumin, treated with verapamil and induced with Newcastle virus (NDV) to the interferon production (IFN). It has been shown that the percentage of degranulation was lower in mastocytes of the mice treated with verapamil, both induced with NDV and non-induced ones. The titer of interferon was lower when the mice induced with virus were injected with verapamil. The inhibitory effect of this drug on histamine release has only been found on the 8th day after the sensitization.

Effect of interferon and polyvalent bacterial vaccine on histamine release from sensitized mouse mastocytes.

The present paper discusses the correlation between NDV-induced interferon production and the degree of histamine release from mouse mastocytes. The injection of mice with Newcastle virus was observed to substantially increase the percentage of released histamine and the degree of mastocytes degranulation. A clear-cut correlation was observed between virus-induced interferon titer and the degree of histamine release both in nonsensitized (control) as well as in sensitized mice. In sensitized animals, however, interferon titer, the percentage of histamine release and degree of mastocytes degranulation was higher. Polyvalent bacterial vaccine was shown to exert the inhibitory effect on the production of interferon induced both in sensitized and nonsensitized mice, however, its influence on the amount of histamine released was not confirmed.

Influence of Vaccinum cholericum, Polyvaccinum and Alavac S preparation on mu-IFN-alpha production.

Investigations were carried out on the effect of Vaccinum cholericum, Polyvaccinum and Alavac S preparations on interferon synthesis in mouse. These preparations, injected i.v. or i.p. prior to viral inducer, were shown to inhibit IFN production. The inhibition was observed also when interferon was induced in vitro in peritoneal cells of mice pretreated with these preparations.

Influence of interferon induction with influenza a virus upon the modification of anti-SRBC humoral response.

The investigations carried out showed the dependence of immunosuppression induced by A/USRR/053/74(H3N2) virus upon the activity of its neuraminidase. High activity of this enzyme influenced interferon (IFN) induction which, in turn, reduced the primary humoral response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) or stimulated the production of IgM and IgG antibody producing cells.

Effect on influenza virus infection on the production of interferon by alveolar and peritoneal cells in vitro.

The investigation was carried on mice infected with influenza A/053/74/H3N2 virus. 129/Ao/Boy, inbred mice, were inoculated intranasally with influenza virus. The alveolar and peritoneal cells from infected and uninfected animals were induced in vitro with Newcastle disease virus. It was shown that the alveolar cells from infected mice produce more interferon than the cells from control mice, but the peritoneal cells from both groups of animals produced the same amount of interferon.

Antigenic structure and biological characteristics of influenza strains isolated in the USSR during the 1974/75 epidemic.

Antigenic analysis of strains isolated in the USSR during the epidemic in 1974/1975 showed differences in the hemagglutination inhibition test and in neuramidase activity with antisera against three reference strains. Strains isolated in a later period of the epidemic were classified into subgroup A/Port Chalmers/1/73. Nearly all strains were effective inducers of interferon and were susceptible to this inhibitor of virus replication.

Interferon and humoral immune response in experimental influenza. I. Infection with virus unadapted to the mouse.

Production of interferon by the peritoneal and alveolar cells as well as the production of antibody-producing cells by spleen in the experimental influenza in the mouse has been studied. At the time when the replication of virus lung was at the peak the alveolar cells, but not peritoneal cells were found to produce in vitro more interferon than the cells from the uninfected mice. At the same time in the spleen increased number of antibody forming cells (PFC) against sheep red blood cells was observed. In contrast, after intravenous or intraperitoneal injection of 5 X 10(8) EID50 of influenza virus which induced approximately 10(3) units of interferon per ml there was an inhibition of PFC in the spleen.

The influence of immunization on the production of interferon in vivo and in vitro.

The present study was undertaken to compare the production of interferon by immunized mice in response to different viral inducers. Porton mice were immunized with NDV or A/Wr11/57 virus by injecting 6-week-old animals with virus on days 1, 7, and 14. The interferon response was investigated 3 weeks later. Compared with controls, the A-immunized mice after stimulation in vivo, produced more interferon when NDV was used as inducer. It was shown in sera as well as in washings of peritoneal cells. In experiments in vitro induction of interferon with NDV or A/Wr11/57 virus in macrophages of immunized mice resulted in significant rise in interferon levels. These results are in agreement with earlier investigation of others and support the role of immune recognition in the interferon response.